A public relations representative for the recently deceased Hayden Panettiere has responded to reports that the actress died of a fentanyl-related overdose.
A public relations representative for the recently deceased Hayden Panettiere has responded to reports that the actress died of a fentanyl-related drug overdose.
In a statement, Kasey Kitchen said Panettiere's death remains under investigation pending toxicology results, despite reports from some national outlets stating otherwise.
On Sept. 14, some news outlets such as TMZ and the New York Post reported that sources said Panettiere died after taking an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl. According to these reports, this led the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to join the investigation.
"While we are all eager to find closure and understand the circumstances of her passing, we must remain patient and allow the investigative process to unfold. I have been informed by the investigating agency that the case is complex, but progress is being made. In the meantime, we must be mindful of reports attributed to unnamed sources, particularly as conflicting information continues to circulate," Kitchen's statement reads, in part. "The answers we are all seeking will come."
On Sunday, Aug. 16, police responded to an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, after receiving a call about an unresponsive person. When Greenville police officers arrived, multiple EMS and fire personnel were performing CPR on a woman identified as Panettiere.
An incident report for Panettiere's death states that EMS continued life-saving efforts "for an extended amount of time" before declaring her dead at 2:31 p.m.
Panettiere's official cause and manner of death remain unconfirmed at this time, as stated by the Greenville County Coroner's Office.
