More than five weeks after Hayden Panettiere died aged 36, officials have shared the results of her post-mortem examination, shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed the actor had multiple substances in her system, including fentanyl and its chemical byproduct, the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, a muscle relaxant, and a medication used to treat major depression and other serious mental health conditions.
Coroner Mike Ellis said the autopsy found nothing to suggest Panettiere suffered any physical injuries that contributed to her death.
“At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” Ellis said in a statement.
While the medical findings have now been released, authorities say the case is not yet closed.
Police previously stated there were no signs of foul play after attending Panettiere’s South Carolina apartment following reports of a cardiac arrest on August 16. However, investigators have since confirmed enquiries are still ongoing.
Family publicist Kasey Kitchen echoed that message, telling The Associated Press the investigation is far from over.
“The investigation is still ongoing, and the case is complex,” Kitchen said.
Boyfriend Brian Hickerson was at the apartment when she died
Panettiere was found unresponsive inside a South Carolina apartment where her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were both present.
According to police, Zach was “very emotional” throughout the emergency response, while Brian reportedly remained calm until paramedics declared the actor dead after more than 40 minutes of CPR.
Officers also said Brian handed over a bag containing medication Panettiere had reportedly been taking around the time of her death.
The attending officer wore a body camera during the incident, although the footage has not been made public.
Their relationship had a troubled history
Panettiere and Hickerson had recently reunited after a five-year protective order involving the pair expired earlier this year.
The couple’s relationship had previously been marred by domestic violence incidents. In 2021, Hickerson served a short sentence after pleading no contest to two felony counts relating to assaults on Panettiere in 2019 and 2020.
In the days following her daughter’s death, Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, publicly criticised Hickerson, accusing him of enabling the actor’s struggles.
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Vogel told NBC News.
“There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times, and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.”
Hickerson’s lawyer later responded by urging the public not to jump to conclusions while authorities continue their investigation.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.”
“Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Panettiere had spoken candidly about her mental health
Throughout her career, Panettiere was open about the challenges she faced with her mental health.
She spoke publicly about experiencing postnatal depression after welcoming her daughter, Kaya, with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, and later reflected on how those experiences mirrored her character Juliette Barnes’ storyline in Nashville.
She also shared the devastating impact of losing her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023 at the age of 28 from a heart condition.
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