Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36 following a suspected drug overdose in a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment. Initial reports indicate the actress suffered cardiac arrest, passing away just five days before her 37th birthday.
Panettiere was discovered unresponsive in an armchair inside the apartment, which she shared with her on-and-off partner Brian Hickerson. Responders attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation before she was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a police report, Hickerson and his brother were present at the apartment when Panettiere died. Police officers at the scene were shown a bag of medication by Hickerson following an emergency call to 911 services.
Police and Federal Investigations
The Greenville Police Department and the local coroner office are conducting separate investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death. First responders reported a potential overdose after arriving at the residence.
Emergency crews located Narcan inside the apartment where Panettiere died. Narcan is a nasal spray formulation of naloxone used by emergency personnel and the public to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Reports indicate that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has also joined the inquiry. The federal agency enforces controlled substance laws and investigates illegal drug distribution across the United States.
Panettiere's 70-year-old mother, Lesley Vogel, told NBC News that a narcotics investigator is actively participating in the case. Vogel said that the involvement of drug investigators led her to believe that authorities have unanswered questions and are actively probing the death, though she was unaware of the exact stage of the investigation.
Mother Criticises Former Partner
Vogel broke her silence regarding her daughter's death and directed criticism toward Hickerson. She stated that she and Panettiere's father had been worried about Hickerson for a long time and had repeatedly tried to distance their daughter from him.
Vogel said that Hickerson was present with Panettiere when she died. She added that Hickerson had a long history of facilitating her daughter into concerning situations, leading to ongoing worry from her family.
According to Vogel, Panettiere and Hickerson were still in a relationship at the time of her death. Vogel noted that she always knew the couple remained together despite their turbulent history.
History of Domestic Abuse
Panettiere and Hickerson maintained an on-and-off relationship between 2018 and 2022 that was marked by repeated breakups and domestic violence incidents. Hickerson was arrested multiple times during their relationship and served a prison sentence for domestic abuse against the actress.
Despite their past legal trouble and separation, the pair had resumed spending time together in recent months leading up to her death.
In statements released following the death, Vogel expressed that her daughter had now found peace and was rejoined with her late brother. Panettiere's former fiancé also expressed shock over her death, stating he would ensure that their shared daughter remembers the person her mother was.
Panettiere gained international fame as a child actress before starring in major television series including Heroes and Nashville, as well as feature films such as Scream 4.
