DEA joins investigation into death of actress Hayden Panettiere in South Carolina
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DEA joins investigation into death of actress Hayden Panettiere in South Carolina
US actress Hayden Panettiere, star of Heroes and Nashville, dies at 36
ContinuationAmerican actress Hayden Panettiere, star of Heroes and Nashville, dies at 36
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, according to reports by the New York Times and ABC News citing sources familiar with the case. Panettiere, known for her roles in *Heroes*, *Nashville*, and the *Scream* film series, died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at age 36.
Greenville police responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at a local residence on Sunday, where emergency responders had already attempted extensive resuscitation efforts before declaring her dead, according to a police incident report released Tuesday. The report stated that Brian Hickerson, whom U.S. media identified as Panettiere’s former partner, had alerted authorities. Hickerson and his brother Zach were present at the scene, and Hickerson showed officers a bag of Panettiere’s current medications, though details of its contents were redacted in the report. Police said preliminary investigations found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, told the Daily Mail that a narcotics investigator had been brought into the probe, which she described as a suspected overdose . The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that an overdose may have caused her cardiac arrest, though it remained unclear whether medications or illicit substances were involved .
The DEA’s involvement follows its past support of local law enforcement in high-profile cases, including the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry, where drugs played a role, as noted by the New York Times. Panettiere had publicly discussed her struggles with alcohol and substance use, including in her May 2026 memoir, *This Is Me: A Reckoning*, where she detailed her battles with addiction, postpartum depression, and personal trauma. She also spoke about the pressures of fame and the loss of her younger brother, who died of a heart condition in 2023.
Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death. Italian outlet Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that police recently visited the home of a relative of Hickerson as part of the investigation . Griff Furst, the director of one of Panettiere’s final films, said in an Instagram video that he had been asked to speak with her about her struggles but the conversation never occurred .
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Articles
Hayden Panettiere und zu viel Bett in einem Wiener Hotelzimmer [premium] Hayden Panettiere wollte in ihrem Leben nichts bedauern. Andere tun das hoffentlich schon. Erinnerungen an ein Interview in fragwürdigem Setting.
die presse · about 2 hours ago
Maker laatste film Hayden Panettiere gevraagd voor gesprek Griff Furst, de regisseur van een van de laatste films waarin Hayden Panettiere heeft gespeeld, zegt dat hij is gevraagd om deel te nemen aan een gesprek met de actrice, die lange tijd kampte met drank- en drugsproblemen. Dat is er alleen nooit van gekomen, zegt hij in een video op Instagram. De Amerikaanse overleed zondag op 36-jarige leeftijd. Een officiële doodsoorzaak is nog niet bekend.
rtl nieuws · about 2 hours ago
Tod von Schauspielerin Hayden Panettiere: US-Antidrogenbehörde nimmt Ermittlungen auf Panettiere hatte offen über ihre Suchterkrankungen gesprochen. Nun untersucht auch die DEA die Umstände ihres plötzlichen Todes in South Carolina.
tagesspiegel · about 2 hours ago
US-Antidrogenbehörde ermittelt zum Tod von Hayden Panettiere Vorläufige Ermittlungen der Polizei werden nun ausgedehnt. Der Filmstar hatte mit Suchterkrankungen zu kämpfen
der standard · about 2 hours ago
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corriere · about 3 hours ago
Hayden Panettieres mom Lesley Vogel says narcotics investigator has been brought into police death probe after stars suspected overdose Hayden Panettieres mother has revealed new details about the investigation into the actress shock death at 36 from a suspected overdose.
dailymail · about 3 hours ago
Lantidroga indaga sulla morte di Hayden Panettiere: controlli della polizia anche a casa dei familiari del fidanzato Brian Hickerson La Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ovvero lantidroga americana, ha deciso di affiancare il Dipartimento di Polizia di Greenville (South Carolina) e lufficio del medico legale locale nelle indagini sulla morte di Hayden Panettiere. Lattrice, nota al grande pubblico per i ruoli nelle serie Heroes e Nashville, si è spenta domenica scorsa a 36 anni per […] Larticolo Lantidroga indaga sulla morte di Hayden Panettiere: controlli della polizia anche a casa dei familiari del fidanzato Brian Hickerson proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.
il fatto quotidiano · about 3 hours ago