Updated

Updated · CNN · Aug 20

DEA Joins Probe Into Hayden Panettiere's Death at 36 as 911 Audio Flags Possible Overdose

Updated

Updated · CNN · Aug 20

DEA Joins Probe Into Hayden Panettiere's Death at 36 as 911 Audio Flags Possible Overdose

Q: After a recent convention cancellation, what undisclosed circumstances led to the sudden and tragic passing of 36-year-old actress Hayden Panettiere?

The circumstances of Hayden Panettiere’s death have not been disclosed. Her representative confirmed only that the 36-year-old actress had died and said the family was sharing the news with “profound sadness,” without releasing a cause, location, or timeline. The recent convention cancellation does not appear to explain her death. Reporting around her withdrawal from the July 11–12 Creep I.E. Con event said it was due to a private family matter involving the health of an elderly relative. That was the only emergency publicly connected to her in the days before the death announcement. While Panettiere had spoken openly in recent months about past struggles with addiction, anxiety, postpartum depression, and the grief of losing her brother Jansen in 2023, there is no confirmed evidence tying any of those issues to her death. Her memoir and interviews documented those experiences as part of her recovery and personal history, not as an established cause in this case. At this stage, the factual answer is that the cause and surrounding circumstances remain unknown. Any link between her death and the earlier family-related convention cancellation would be speculative unless confirmed by her family, representatives, or authorities.

3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 20

Greenville authorities said Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Sunday after medics responded to a 1:51 p.m. 911 call for cardiac arrest at the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex.
Dispatch audio referenced a possible overdose and CPR in progress, though officials have not confirmed an overdose and said the cause and manner of death remain pending further testing.
Brian and Zach Hickerson told a responding officer they called 911, and Brian Hickerson showed police a bag of Panettiere's medications; much of the report, including the medication list, was redacted.
A Monday autopsy found no trauma that would have contributed to her death, while toxicology results could take weeks as federal drug agents now participate in the investigation.
The scrutiny also revives attention on Panettiere's recent memoir, which described years of domestic abuse by a man named Brian; Brian Hickerson has publicly acknowledged a 2020 arrest after getting physical with her.