Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Revealed: Full Coroners Report - Newsweek

The cause of Hayden Panettiere's death has been officially determined, with South Carolina authorities ruling that the actress died from the toxic effects of multiple drugs and classifying her death as accidental.

The findings provide long-awaited answers following weeks of public speculation surrounding the death of the former Heroes and Nashville star.

According to the Greenville County Coroner's Office, Panettiere's death was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.

Officials determined that the manner of death was an accident after an autopsy found no evidence of trauma or foul play, according to the report obtained by Newsweek.

According to the coroner's office, a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest was received on August 16 at approximately 1:51 p.m. First responders and emergency medical personnel arrived at a residence on Easley Bridge Road in Greenville, where they found Panettiere in cardiac arrest.

Despite advanced life support measures, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.

Investigators said Panettiere had been staying temporarily at the residence where she was found.

The coroner's office launched a parallel investigation with the Greenville City Police Department immediately after her death.

An autopsy later found no traumatic injuries that contributed to her death, helping investigators rule out violence or other external causes before ultimately determining that toxic drug effects were responsible.

The coroner's report identified fentanyl as one of the substances contributing to Panettiere's death.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has played a major role in the ongoing overdose crisis in the United States because of its potency and prevalence in both illicit and counterfeit drugs, according to public health officials.

The report also identified 4-ANPP, a chemical compound associated with the manufacture of fentanyl, among the substances present.

In addition to fentanyl-related compounds, authorities listed alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine as contributing factors. Alprazolam is commonly sold under the brand name Xanax and is prescribed for anxiety disorders.

Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, while quetiapine is a medication used to treat conditions including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

Officials did not provide additional details regarding dosages or how the substances entered Panettiere's system.

Panettiere's death was first confirmed by her father, Skip Panettiere, who remembered his daughter as a source of joy and inspiration for those who knew her and for audiences who followed her career.

In a statement released after her death, he described her as an "incredible light" whose impact extended far beyond the screen.

Panettiere began working in television as a child actor, appearing on soap operas including One Life to Live and Guiding Light.

She gained wider recognition in the football drama Remember the Titans before becoming a television star on NBC's Heroes. Her portrayal of Claire Bennet made her one of the most recognizable young actors of the late 2000s and helped establish the series as a cultural phenomenon.

She later earned critical acclaim in ABC's Nashville, where her performance as aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes brought her two Golden Globe nominations.

Panettiere also became a fan favorite within the horror genre through appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas