Panettiere was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina apartment on Aug. 16.
Actress Hayden Panettiere reportedly died after taking an oxycodone pill that investigators believe was laced with fentanyl, law enforcement sources familiar with the case told TMZ.
The outlet reported that Panettiere had a person it described as a “long time drug dealer” in Los Angeles who allegedly supplied her with black-market prescription drugs, including oxycodone. TMZ reported that she took several drugs purchased from that person on a flight to South Carolina, then took an oxycodone pill the morning of her death that investigators believe was laced with fentanyl.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a Greenville apartment on Aug. 16, shortly before her 37th birthday. Her official cause and manner of death remain pending toxicology results.
The Drug Enforcement Administration offices in Los Angeles and South Carolina are conducting the investigation. Sources said agents in Los Angeles are working to trace the suspected fatal pill to the alleged dealer.
Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, reportedly met with DEA officials. Hickerson was with Panettiere at the apartment and previously showed police a “bag of medication Hayden is currently on,” according to an incident report.
Police said officers responded to a report of an unresponsive person. EMS continued life-saving efforts “for an extended amount of time” before Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.
Hickerson said through his attorney that Panettiere’s death remains under investigation and that police found no signs of foul play. The attorney said there would be no further comment out of respect for Panettiere’s loved ones and the investigation.
Before her death, Panettiere released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, detailing her experiences with child stardom, addiction and recovery, postpartum depression, trauma, domestic abuse, loss and the pressures of Hollywood.
She was known for her roles in “Heroes,” “Ice Princess” and “Nashville.”
