Hayden Panettiere allegedly took an oxycodone pill that was laced with fentanyl on the day she died, according to a new report. The ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ star died at the age of 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, and the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.According to TMZ, multiple law enforcement sources believe Panettiere took an oxycodone pill containing fentanyl on the morning of her death. The report says investigators are now trying to trace the pill to the person who allegedly supplied it to the actress.However, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office has said that the toxicology findings have not yet been released, meaning the reported cause of death has not been officially confirmed.
Panettiere allegedly bought prescription drugs in Los Angeles
According to the report, Panettiere had obtained several prescription drugs, including oxycodone, from an alleged long-time drug dealer in Los Angeles before travelling to South Carolina.The actress and her on-and-off boyfriend, real estate agent Brian Hickerson, reportedly flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina one day before her death. Investigators reportedly believe Panettiere had some of the drugs with her during the trip and that the pill she took the following morning may have contained a potentially fatal amount of fentanyl.
Brian Hickerson reportedly administered Narcan
Hickerson was at the South Carolina residence when Panettiere was found unresponsive. According to previous reports, he administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, after finding her unconscious.Narcan was also found at the apartment, while first responders reportedly referenced a suspected overdose during emergency dispatches.Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest after emergency services responded to a 911 call. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her autopsy reportedly found no signs of trauma.
DEA reportedly joins investigation
The investigation has expanded beyond South Carolina, with authorities reportedly looking into where the drugs came from. Hickerson met with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration last week as part of the ongoing probe, according to reports.TMZ previously reported that investigators were trying to identify a person who may have supplied drugs to Panettiere. No one has been arrested in connection with her death so far.
Panettiere had spoken openly about addiction
Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction. In her memoir, ‘I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here: The Making of a Life on the Edge’, she discussed her substance-use struggles and her efforts to recover.The actress had also spoken about beginning to use prescription drugs as a teenager and later facing worsening addiction following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.Panettiere rose to fame as a child actor before becoming widely known for playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in NBC’s ‘Heroes’. She later starred as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama series ‘Nashville’ and played Kirby Reed in the ‘Scream’ franchise.
