Hayden Panettiere cause of death: What happened to ‘Heroes’ star? Here’s what the autopsy reveals

Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and several other drugs, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina. She was known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville.

Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville on August 16. Her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the residence at the time.

Paramedics arrived after a 911 call and performed CPR and other advanced resuscitation measures for more than 40 minutes. Panettiere was subsequently pronounced dead.


Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis said the autopsy found no signs of trauma that could have contributed to her death.

Read more: Hayden Panettiere, star of Heroes, Nashville and Scream, dies at 36

What was discovered in the autopsy?

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said fentanyl and a chemical byproduct of the drug were detected in Panettiere’s system.

Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, was also found. The actress additionally had a muscle relaxer and another drug commonly used to treat major depression and other serious mental health conditions in her system.

The coroner classified Panettiere’s death as an accidental overdose but did not release further details from the autopsy.

Investigation into Panettiere’s death continues

Kasey Kitchen, a publicist for Panettiere’s family, told The Associated Press that the investigation remains ongoing following the coroner’s findings.

Read more: Hayden Panettier became star by age 11, was given 'happy pills' at 15 before walking Red Carpet

“The investigation is still ongoing and the case is complex,” Kitchen said.

Greenville Police also confirmed Tuesday that their investigation into Panettiere’s death is continuing.

A police report released following her death listed medications Panettiere had been taking, although the names of the drugs were redacted.

Hayden Panettiere’s career and personal struggles

Panettiere began acting as a child and rose to international prominence through her role as Claire Bennet in Heroes. She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville.

In her memoir, Panettiere opened up about her struggles with alcohol addiction and postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Kaya is her daughter with Ukrainian former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere also experienced personal family tragedies. Her parents’ marriage eventually ended, while her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died from a heart condition in 2023 at the age of 28.