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South Carolina Police Close Investigation into Hayden Panettiere's Death
· Confirmed
In Short: South Carolina police have closed their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, ruling it accidental.
South Carolina police announced Wednesday that they have closed their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, ruling it an accidental overdose. According to 23ABC News Bakersfield, the decision was based on the medical examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation.
CBS News reported that Panettiere was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville on Aug. 16, 2026, at age 36. 23ABC News Bakersfield and CBS News both noted that paramedics were unable to resuscitate her.
Deadline reported that Panettiere had been in rehab just weeks before her death. The coroner's report, obtained by The Associated Press, stated that her death was from an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine.
Fox News reported that Panettiere's ex-fiancé, former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, said some of her property had been taken by federal law enforcement agents investigating her death and by an unnamed nonrelative looking to sell it.
23ABC News Bakersfield and Deadline both noted that Panettiere had acknowledged being addicted to alcohol and having postpartum depression after her daughter's birth in 2014 in her memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning,' published in May.
According to 23ABC News Bakersfield, Panettiere's father told investigators that she had plans to visit her daughter in Ukraine days after her death. The California court granted Klitschko legal status to protect Panettiere's property for their 11-year-old daughter, who is her sole heir.
Both 23ABC News Bakersfield and CBS News reported that emergency responders were called to a residence where Panettiere had been staying in Greenville, South Carolina, on the afternoon of Aug. 16.
A friend of Panettiere’s called 911 reporting an “unresponsive female,” according to Deadline.
Despite some discrepancies in the details provided by various outlets, they all agree that Panettiere's death was ruled an accidental overdose involving multiple drugs, including fentanyl, and that the investigation has concluded.
What this adds
South Carolina police had closed their investigation into Panettiere's death, ruling it accidental.
Background
South Carolina police have closed their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, ruling it accidental.
South Carolina police have closed their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, ruling it accidental.
What's confirmed
- The decision was based on the medical examiner's determination as well as the findings of the investigation, Greenville police said Wednesday in a statement.
- In "This Is Me: A Reckoning," a memoir that was published in May, Panettiere acknowledged being addicted to alcohol and having postpartum depression after her daughter's birth in 2014.
- Panettiere, who starred in the TV series "Heroes" and "Nashville," was pronounced dead in an apartment in Greenville on Aug. 16 at age 36 after paramedics found her unresponsive.
- RELATED STORY | Hayden Panettiere appeared to suffer cardiac arrest after suspected overdose The California court granted Klitschko legal status this month to protect Panettiere's property for their 11-year-old daughter, who is her sole heir.
- Panettiere's father told investigators that at the time of her death, she had plans to visit her daughter in Ukraine days later.
- In a petition to a California court last month, Panettiere's ex-fiance, former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, said some of her property had been taken by federal law enforcement agents investigating her death and by an unnamed nonrelative looking to sell it.
- Police in South Carolina have closed their investigation into the overdose death of actor Hayden Panettiere following a coroner's finding that it was accidental.
- RELATED STORY | Hayden Panettiere’s death was accidental and involved fentanyl, coroner says A coroner's report obtained by The Associated Press last month said her death was from an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl, and she had been in rehab just weeks before.
- Actor Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled an accident and the case is now closed, police in South Carolina announced Wednesday.
- Emergency responders were called to a residence where Panettiere, 36, had been staying in Greenville, South Carolina, on the afternoon of Aug. 16.
- GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville Police Department said it has officially closed its investigation into the death of Hayden Panettiere.
- Actress Hayden Panettiere 's death has been ruled accidental, according to police in South Carolina, who said Wednesday they are closing their investigation.
What's still developing
- Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reports on actress Hayden Panettiere's official cause of death being ruled an accident due to toxic effects of fentanyl and other substances on 'The Story.' Hayden Panettiere’s death was ruled accidental, authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital.
- Hayden Panettiere attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's New Film "Blonde" at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 13, 2022 in Hollywood, California.
- One of the men said he didn’t know Panettiere had used illegal drugs in recent days, but “she was very good at hiding them,” the coroner’s report said.
- Bell County indictments released Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026: Police said that a conflict over flirting led to a murder in Killeen earlier this year followed by an indictment of a 28-year-old man this week.
- In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” she detailed how her life began to spiral after she had a daughter with Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.