Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in "Scream 4," "Heroes" and "Nashville," died on August 16 at the age of 36. She was found at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, and emergency services were unable to revive her.
New details from the investigation now point to a possible cause of death. According to information released by TMZ and picked up by international outlets, investigators believe Panettiere may have taken an oxycodone pill that had been laced with fentanyl. Toxicological results are still required to officially confirm the cause of death.
What may have caused her death
Per TMZ, authorities believe one of the substances Panettiere took before she died could have been an oxycodone pill contaminated with fentanyl. The investigation suggests the actress obtained medication from a drug supplier in Los Angeles, and that the pill believed to have caused her death was linked to that supply.
The investigation is continuing in an effort to determine the pill's origin. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is taking part in the inquiry and is working to reconstruct how Panettiere obtained the medication. A preliminary autopsy found no signs of trauma that would explain her death, while toxicology analysis will be decisive in establishing the official cause.
Panettiere's final hours
Authorities found Panettiere in cardiac arrest at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Brian Hickerson, who was at the scene, reportedly tried to revive her with Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
According to the latest reports, the investigation is also trying to identify the alleged supplier who sold the medication to the actress. TMZ says authorities are focused on determining who provided the substances and whether any of them contained fentanyl. It has not yet been officially established that this was the cause of her death.
Panettiere's career
Panettiere built her career playing Claire Bennet in the superhero series "Heroes," Juliette Barnes in the musical drama "Nashville" and Kirby Reed in "Scream 4." Her death was met with shock from fans of her work across film and television.
What happens next
Toxicology results have not yet been released, and the DEA's investigation into the source of the pill is ongoing. No official cause of death has been confirmed.
