Reports: DEA joins investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death

DEA Steps Into Probe of Hayden Panettiere’s Fatal Collapse in South Carolina

Qwenews.com – According to reporting by the New York Times and ABC News, drawing on sources with knowledge of the case, the Drug Enforcement Administration has entered the investigation surrounding the death of actress Hayden Panettiere. CNN contacted the DEA, the Greenville Police Department—which is spearheading the inquiry—and representatives for the late actress.

What Happened That Sunday

The 36-year-old former child star was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. Her boyfriend and his brother dialed 911 to report the situation, according to a police report released earlier in the week. First responders arrived to find Panettiere in cardiac arrest, per the coroner’s office. Dispatch audio obtained via Broadcastify.com alludes to a possible overdose and ongoing CPR, although officials have not confirmed whether an overdose occurred.

Resuscitation efforts proved unsuccessful. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m., the coroner’s office stated. Neither a cause nor a manner of death has been established, pending further testing. Standard toxicology panels in death investigations of this kind can require weeks before results are finalized.

Autopsy Findings and Scene Details

An autopsy carried out on Monday found no traumatic injuries that might have contributed to her death, the coroner’s office reported. Panettiere, a California resident, had been “temporarily staying” at the apartment complex, though authorities declined to identify who occupied the residence.

A Greenville officer arrived on scene and spoke with brothers Brian and Zach Hickerson, who confirmed they were the ones who called 911. The report records the officer writing:

“I spoke with Zach Hickerson first, he advised this was his brother’s girlfriend.”

Brian Hickerson presented the officer with a bag containing Panettiere’s medications, the report noted. However, numerous details in the document—including the full medication list—have been redacted. CNN reached out to both Hickerson brothers for comment.

Panettiere’s remains were transferred Tuesday evening to the mortuary selected by her family, the coroner’s office confirmed.

A Career Marked by Triumph and Turmoil

Panettiere rose to global recognition as a child performer before spending her adult years navigating addiction and postpartum depression. She chronicled those battles in a memoir and spoke openly about the loss of her brother. Months before her death, she had expressed a sense of readiness to begin anew and was pursuing a comeback; her most recent film had hit screens in January.

Grief Crosses Borders

The sudden loss rippled outward from Hollywood to Ukraine, where Wladimir Klitschko—her former partner and the father of their child, as well as a former world heavyweight boxing champion—mourned the actress and activist. On Tuesday, he posted on X:

“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief.”

“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry.”

CNN’s Julianna Bragg contributed to this report.