Investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s Death Shifts to Overdose Reports

Law enforcement records indicate the emergency call was placed at 1:51 p.m. on August 16. Dispatchers reported an unidentified female in cardiac arrest, prompting first responders to attempt resuscitation using advanced life support. Despite these efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. The Greenville County coroner is scheduled to perform an autopsy on Monday to determine the official cause of death.

Questions have emerged regarding the presence of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, during the incident. Hickerson, who previously admitted to abusing the actress, had reportedly traveled with her from Los Angeles to South Carolina just one day prior. This uncertainty follows a period where Panettiere had been remarkably candid about her ongoing recovery from addiction and her hopes for the future. In a May interview, the actress spoke of her belief that she had “a lot more life to live,” emphasizing her commitment to mental health advocacy through her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.