Hayden Panettiere Died From Fentanyl-Laced Pill: Report

New details regarding the investigation into Hayden Panettiere‘s death have emerged nearly one month later.

ABC News reported on Monday, September 14, that the investigation into Panettiere’s death is now cross-country in both Los Angeles and South Carolina, focusing on what drugs could have been involved and where they came from.

According to a separate report from TMZ, law enforcement sources believe the actress took one oxycodone pill that was laced with fentanyl. Sources connected to the case claim Panettiere had a drug dealer in L.A. who was allegedly providing her with black-market prescription drugs before her death. The DEA is reportedly attempting to trace the pill taken by Panettiere back to the alleged dealer.

TMZ further noted that toxicology results, which are currently pending, will offer more insight into the circumstances leading up to Panettiere’s shocking death.

Related: DEA Joins Hayden Panettiere Death Investigation: What to Know

Actress Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026, and pronounced dead at the scene. She was 36. According to a statement from the Greenville Police Department, officers, “accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at approximately 1:50 p.m. “Upon arrival, medical […]

A rep for Panettiere addressed the alleged developments in the case, telling Us, “The investigation is still ongoing. Law enforcement has not disclosed who they are targeting, but I am told the case is complex. We hope to have more answers soon.”

The Heroes actress died at age 36 on August 16 after traveling to South Carolina with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson.

According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, “a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest.” First responders were unable to resuscitate the woman found at the scene, who was eventually identified as Panettiere.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and the Greenville City Police Department confirmed they were conducting “a parallel investigation” into Panettiere’s death. An autopsy determined there were “no signs of trauma,” but Panettiere’s official cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Hickerson, 36, was on the scene when Panettiere was found dead. The pair were first linked in 2018 and had a tumultuous relationship, which included multiple domestic violence arrests on Hickerson’s part.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” read a statement to Us from Hickerson’s lawyer. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

Related: Hayden Panettiere’s Ups and Downs Over the Years

Hayden Panettiere faced professional and personal challenges before her death. The  actress started modeling at 5 months old and appeared in her first commercial when she was 11 months old. Her big break came in 1994 when she began playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live at age 5. She continued to impress onscreen with roles […]

Panettiere’s rep, meanwhile, recently slammed online speculation about her client’s death.

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“Many people who were not close to Hayden are using her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation about a situation they knew very little about,” read a statement shared exclusively with Us last month. “It is deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are actively grieving this tremendous loss.”

The statement continued: “There is much more to this story than what is currently being discussed publicly, and those closest to Hayden are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure that the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served.”

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