The recent passing of Hayden Panettiere has been determined as accidental and linked to the “toxic effects” of various drugs, including fentanyl, as per the findings of the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
Panettiere, recognized for her roles in popular TV series such as “Heroes” and “Nashville,” passed away on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was residing. Upon the arrival of emergency responders, Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest, and their resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Following a collaborative investigation by the Coroner’s Office and the Greenville City Police Department, it was confirmed in an official statement to CBC News that the cause of death was due to toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine. Quetiapine is used to treat certain mental health disorders, Alprazolam is for anxiety treatment, Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, and 4-ANPP is linked to fentanyl production, a potent opioid.
During the autopsy, no indications of trauma that could have led to her death were found. The Associated Press reported that Panettiere had recently been discharged from a rehabilitation facility in Malibu, California, just weeks before her passing.
The actress, who tragically died just before turning 37, had openly shared her struggles with early fame, addiction, and mental health issues, including postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2014. She had been candid about her life experiences in interviews and her recent memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”
Panettiere’s demise prompted an outpouring of tributes and memories from colleagues and fans. Additionally, it reignited past criticism directed at skincare brand Neutrogena, for which Panettiere had been a global brand ambassador for nearly a decade before her daughter’s birth. She claimed that the company terminated their association after she began discussing her battle with postpartum depression.