Hayden Panettiere died from toxic effects of fentanyl and other substances
The medical examiner's office determined the cause of death to be the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.
Image of Hayden Panettiere
American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the series Heroes and Nashville, died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and other substances, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office in South Carolina. Authorities classified her death as accidental.
Panettiere, 36, was pronounced dead on August 16 in an apartment in Greenville. According to CNN, emergency responders arrived at the scene after receiving a 911 call and found the actress in cardiac arrest; they were unable to revive her.
The medical examiner's office determined the cause of death to be the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, metocarbamol and quetiapine. Although authorities determined that the death was accidental, the investigation continues to determine whether anyone could face criminal charges for providing her with a lethal substance.
The case is also being investigated by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and authorities in the Los Angeles area. Investigators have questioned several people and are examining whether Panettiere may have ingested a counterfeit narcotic and whether it may have interacted with other substances present in her system.
Updates
Hayden Panettiere's partner administered Narcan to try to revive her before calling emergency services
Andrés Ignacio Henríquez
"The investigation remains ongoing and the circumstances surrounding the case are complex," said Kasey Kitchen, Panettiere's representative, in a statement to CNN after the coroner's report was released. The representative asked for patience as the investigation proceeds.
Panettiere had spoken publicly about her mental health struggles and substance abuse. In recent years, she had also discussed her experiences with postpartum depression and addiction, issues that temporarily affected a career that began when she was less than a year old.
This year, the actress also spoke about her experiences in a recently published memoir and publicly addressed her brother's death. At the time of her death, her career was entering a new phase, following the release of her most recent film in January.
Panettiere's death
According to a police report, her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, called 911 on the afternoon of August 16 to report that Panettiere was unresponsive. Both were questioned separately at the scene, while Brian Hickerson handed an officer a bag containing the actress's medications.
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