The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, who was found unresponsive at a South Carolina apartment on August 16, 2026, at age 36. The cause of death remains pending, with no signs of trauma but a focus on potential drug-related factors.
Hayden Panettiere’s death has triggered a multi-agency investigation, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) now involved alongside the Greenville Police Department and the county coroner’s office. The 36-year-old actress, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was found unresponsive at an apartment in Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville on August 16. Emergency responders performed CPR for an extended amount of time before declaring her dead at 2:31 p.m. local time. The coroner’s office confirmed no visible injuries, but toxicology results are still pending.
Investigation Details and DEA Involvement
The DEA’s involvement follows reports of a possible overdose, with paramedics on the scene heard discussing “cardiac arrest” and “overdose” during a 911 call. TMZ reported that Narcan, a medication used to reverse overdoses, was found at the scene. The agency has not confirmed or commented on active investigations, stating, The DEA does not confirm or comment on active investigations.
However, sources familiar with the case told ABC News that the DEA is assisting in parallel investigations. This mirrors the 2023 probe into Matthew Perry’s death, where the DEA secured multiple convictions.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy Monday morning, with officials noting no obvious signs of trauma. A redacted police report revealed that Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the time of her death. Zach Hickerson was described as “very emotional” during resuscitation efforts, while Brian Hickerson reportedly became emotional only after she was declared dead. Brian later showed officers a bag of medication
Panettiere had been taking, though the contents remain unspecified.
Eyewitness Accounts and Scene Details
The Greenville Police Department also conducted a welfare check at a South Carolina home linked to the Hickerson brothers, though no one answered the door.
Paramedics attempted advanced cardiac life support
but were unable to revive Panettiere. A police report noted that EMS personnel observed multiple EMS and firemen performing CPR on a white female patient who appeared to be unresponsive.
The 911 call included references to a potential overdose, with responders stating, CPR is in progress.
Addiction Struggles and Public Legacy
Panettiere’s struggles with substance use were detailed in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, where she wrote about years of addiction. She had previously spoken candidly about her use of alcohol and opioids, telling People in 2022, I almost couldn’t live without
these substances. Her relationship with Hickerson, which began in 2018 and involved him being arrested multiple times for alleged domestic violence, was also a focal point of her memoir.
Memorial and Legacy
The investigation remains open, with the coroner’s office expected to release a final report in up to three months. The DEA’s involvement suggests a focus on potential drug-related factors, though no official cause has been confirmed.
