Medical examiners in Greenville County, South Carolina, confirmed that the 36-year-old star’s death on August 16 was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine, according to reporting by The Irish Times.
Coroner and Police Findings in South Carolina
Medical examiners stated that there were “no signs of trauma” and ruled the manner of death an accident, as reported by The Irish Times. The Greenville Police Department separately confirmed that no foul play was suspected. According to a statement provided to The Guardian by the Greenville Police Department, the preliminary investigation revealed no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and an acquaintance of Panettiere placed the initial 911 call.
Panettiere was in her South Carolina apartment with her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, at the time of her death on August 16. A police report cited by The Irish Times noted that a Greenville police officer observed paramedics performing CPR on an unresponsive woman. The reporting officer stated that the patient did not appear to have obvious physical reasons for unresponsiveness, noting that Zach Hickerson was very emotional while emergency medical services worked on Panettiere, while Brian Hickerson became emotional after she was officially declared deceased.
Family Statements and Career Legacy
Following her death, her father, Skip Panettiere, released a statement published by The Guardian, describing her as an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to those who knew her and to the millions who watched her on-screen.
Panettiere began her acting career at 11 months old and achieved widespread recognition for television roles including Claire Bennet in Heroes and country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for the latter. Her film credits included roles in Scream 4 in 2011 and Scream VI in 2023.
In 2014, Panettiere welcomed a daughter, Kaya, with her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. In 2018, she granted Klitschko full custody while focusing on her recovery from depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In May, Panettiere released a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she detailed her struggles with fame, postpartum depression, addiction, and recovery, according to The Guardian.
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