Hayden Panettiere’s Official Cause Of Death Released
on • Updated
Autopsy results for actress Hayden Panettiere have been released.
Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in Scream and “Nashville,” died on Sunday (August 16) at the age of 36. Details about her tragic death have emerged in the days since, but her official cause of death wasn’t released until September 22.
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
Just before 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, August 16, a 911 call was received from Judson Mills Lofts, a luxury apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolin, in regards to an unresponsive female who had suffered apparent cardiac arrest. When they arrived on scene, they found Hayden Panettiere and began administering aid.
First responders administered “advanced cardiac life support,” but attempts were not successful. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
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The following day, Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis shared preliminary findings following the completion of an autopsy. He confirmed that Hayden showed no signs of trauma and that an investigation was underway.
“An autopsy was completed today. At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the statement read.
He added, “The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies. This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time.”
HAYDEN PANETTIERE’S OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH
Hayden Panettiere was reportedly visiting Greenville with her ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, at the time of her death. Hickerson is a native of Greenville and was reportedly staying at the Judson Mill Loft apartment with his brother, Zach. Both men were at the home at the time of Panettiere’s death and called 911 after they found her unresponsive, an incident report released by the Greenville Police Department indicates.
The full autopsy report was released to Country Rebel by Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis on Tuesday, September 22.
The report confirms that Hayden Panettiere’s official cause of death was ruled as “toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine.” Her death has been ruled accidental.
Read the coroner’s statement in full below:
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest at 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville. First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and initiated a parallel investigation with the Greenville City Police Department.
The decedent has been identified as Hayden Leslie Panettiere, 36, of California.
Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying.
An autopsy was completed by a Board Certified Forensic Pathologist. At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.
The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam,
Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine. The manner of death has been ruled accident.
This case is administratively closed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.”
