Greenville Police Close Investigation Into Hayden Panettiere's Death, Ruling It Accidental
The 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' star died in August at 36 from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and other drugs. Whether a reported DEA inquiry has also ended is unclear.
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, have concluded their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere and ruled it accidental, the BBC reported Wednesday.
"Based on the Medical Examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere's death has been ruled accidental," the Greenville Police Department said in a statement.
Panettiere, known for the NBC series "Heroes" and the drama "Nashville," was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence on Aug. 16 and died at 36. Last month the Greenville County Coroner's Office found she died of an accidental overdose from the toxic effects of several drugs, including fentanyl and Xanax. The coroner also found methocarbamol, a prescription muscle relaxant, and quetiapine, an antipsychotic. The coroner's office said crews had treated a woman in cardiac arrest and that the autopsy showed "no signs of trauma" contributing to her death.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly joined the local inquiry, according to CBS News, the BBC's U.S. partner. It is unclear whether that federal investigation has also concluded; a Greenville police spokesperson could not say what the DEA was investigating, and the BBC said it had contacted the agency.
Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with substance abuse.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans over the past five years, the BBC noted.
Still unknown: whether the DEA's review will lead to any action regarding where the drugs came from.
