Hayden Panettiere’s Death Investigation Expands as DEA Joins Probe, Authorities Say

Panettiere was open about her challenges growing up in the spotlight and facing abuse within the entertainment industry

The investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death has expanded, with the Drug Enforcement Administration now participating, according to a source familiar with the case who spoke to The New York Times.

ABC News also confirmed the development, noting that while the DEA is providing assistance, the Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina continues as the primary investigative agency.

In a statement released to NBC News, Greenville police reported that officers and emergency medical services responded to reports of an unresponsive woman on Sunday, August 16. “Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Dispatch audio obtained by People captured authorities discussing both an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in connection with Panettiere’s passing.

According to Coroner Mike Ellis, an autopsy was completed on Monday, August 17, revealing “no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death.” The coroner emphasized that the cause and manner of death “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies. This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time.”

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Panettiere had been vocal about her personal struggles, including her experiences as a child actor and the widespread sexual harassment and abuse she encountered in Hollywood. Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, details her battles with postpartum depression, addiction, and domestic violence. The book chronicles her extensive career in entertainment, her rise to fame under intense media scrutiny, and the peaks and valleys of starring in popular series such as Heroes and Nashville.

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