Hayden Panettiere’s death is now the subject of a broader police investigation as authorities work to determine exactly what happened inside the Greenville, South Carolina, residence where the actress was found unresponsive.
According to a new report from TMZ, law enforcement sources familiar with the case say police are conducting a death investigation to determine whether any criminal conduct may have played a role in Panettiere’s death.
What We Know So Far
The investigation is being conducted alongside the Greenville County Coroner’s Office’s work to establish the official cause and manner of death.
The development comes after Greenville police were seen Wednesday morning at the home of Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson’s family.
Two uniformed officers were photographed at the residence, though it remains unclear exactly what information they were seeking or whether anyone answered the door.
The police presence followed the release of an incident report detailing what happened in the hours surrounding Panettiere’s death.
Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive Sunday, Aug. 16, at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville. Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:51 p.m. and attempted to revive her.
Police Are Waiting on the Toxicology Report
The coroner later confirmed that an autopsy had been completed and found no signs of trauma that contributed to Panettiere’s death. However, the official cause and manner remain pending while additional testing is completed.
A police report identified Hickerson and his brother, Zach, as being at the residence when Panettiere was found. Zach reportedly discovered her unresponsive, while Brian was asleep at the time. Both men spoke with officers as emergency crews worked on Panettiere.
According to the report, Brian showed officers a bag containing medications Panettiere had been taking. Specific medications were not publicly identified in the report. Investigators were also told surveillance footage was available showing the three individuals arriving at and leaving the property.
The circumstances have prompted questions because dispatch audio from the emergency response referenced both cardiac arrest and a possible overdose.
Narcan was reportedly administered during the emergency response, although that information does not establish what caused Panettiere’s death. Her official cause remains undetermined.
Importantly, authorities have not publicly accused Hickerson or anyone else of causing Panettiere’s death, and reports citing police say there is currently no indication of foul play.
The investigation is intended to determine the circumstances surrounding an unexpected death, rather than establish that a crime occurred.
Panettiere and Hickerson had a complicated history. The actress previously spoke publicly about their relationship and domestic violence in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” The two had reconnected after their tumultuous relationship, though the nature of their relationship at the time of her death has been described differently in various reports.
Panettiere was best known for “Heroes” and “Nashville,” as well as movies including “Remember the Titans,” “Scream 4” and “Scream VI.” She is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” in a statement announcing her death.
For now, investigators are waiting on additional testing as they continue examining the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s unexpected death.
