Hayden Panettiere Toxicology Report Reveals New Details About Actress’ Final Hours
Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and four other substances, according to a toxicology report released Tuesday, more than a month after the actress was found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office classified her death as accidental. The report identifies the “toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine” as contributing substances, while an autopsy found no trauma that contributed to her death.
What Hayden Panettiere’s Toxicology Report Found
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. 4-ANPP is a chemical associated with fentanyl production, while alprazolam is the generic name for Xanax. Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, and quetiapine is a prescription medication used for several psychiatric conditions.
The official cause of death had remained pending for weeks. On Sept. 14, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said it had not released any findings despite reports circulating about the case.
Panettiere’s Final Hours and 911 Response
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a temporary residence at Greenville’s Judson Mill Lofts on Aug. 16, one day after traveling to South Carolina. Emergency personnel were called at about 1:51 p.m. after a report of cardiac arrest.
Paramedics performed CPR and other advanced resuscitation measures for more than 40 minutes, but Panettiere could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., according to the Associated Press.
Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the residence when Panettiere was found, according to the AP. The police report also indicated that medication Panettiere had been taking was provided to investigators, although the names were initially not disclosed.
Police Investigation Remains Open
Greenville Police confirmed Tuesday that its investigation into Panettiere’s death is continuing. Her family’s publicist, Kasey Kitchen, also told the AP that “the investigation is still ongoing and the case is complex.”
Federal authorities reportedly searched Panettiere’s Los Angeles home on Aug. 25, nine days after her death, as part of an investigation involving possible illicit drugs.
Earlier reports about a possible fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill and an alleged drug supplier were attributed to unnamed law-enforcement sources. Panettiere’s representatives cautioned against treating such reports as established facts, calling the circulating claims as unverified, saying investigators needed time to establish what happened.
The official toxicology findings do not establish how she obtained the drugs or whether anyone else will face charges.
Panettiere’s Career and Public Struggles
Panettiere became widely known for playing Claire Bennet on “Heroes” and Juliette Barnes on “Nashville.” She also appeared in the Scream franchise and other film and television projects.
In her memoir, This Is Me, released in May 2026, Panettiere discussed her struggles with alcohol addiction and postpartum depression. She had also previously spoken publicly about entering treatment while working on Nashville. She was 36 when she died, just weeks before her 37th birthday.
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