Hayden Panettiere’s Death Ruled Accidental as Police Close Probe

Police in Greenville, South Carolina, have closed their investigation into actress Hayden Panettiere’s death, ruling it accidental.

The Greenville Police Department confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the case was no longer being treated as suspicious following the medical examiner’s findings.

“Based on the Medical Examiner’s determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental,” the department said in a statement.

An earlier coroner’s report obtained by the Associated Press attributed the 36-year-old actress’s death to an accidental overdose involving multiple drugs, including fentanyl.

Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was reportedly found in cardiac arrest at a South Carolina residence on August 16.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, described her as an extraordinary person who brought love and joy to those around her.

The actress shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with former fiancé and Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. In 2018, she agreed to give him full custody amid her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction.

However, the police investigation’s closure may not end the matter. The Associated Press reported that federal authorities could continue a separate inquiry after agents reportedly took some of Panettiere’s belongings.

Panettiere began acting as an infant and later established a music career through Nashville, which aired from 2012 to 2018.