KEY POINT
Authorities in South Carolina and Los Angeles are investigating where drugs potentially connected to Panettiere came from.
Sources told TMZ that investigators believe a prescription pill may have been contaminated with fentanyl, but the claim remains unconfirmed.
Toxicology results are still pending, meaning Panettiere’s official cause of death has not been announced.
The investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death has expanded beyond South Carolina, with authorities examining potential connections to drugs obtained in Los Angeles, according to sources cited by ABC News and TMZ.
TMZ reported Monday that law enforcement sources believe Panettiere had a longtime drug dealer in Los Angeles who allegedly supplied black-market prescription medication, including oxycodone. Sources said investigators are examining whether an oxycodone pill taken by Panettiere may have been laced with fentanyl.
The reported drug trail is now part of a broader investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles office. Investigators are reportedly working to determine the actress’s alleged connection to the dealer and trace the origin of the medication.
However, the reported fentanyl connection has not been officially confirmed. Toxicology testing remains pending, and authorities have not announced an official cause or manner of death.
According to sources cited by ABC News, Panettiere traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina on Aug. 15, one day before her death. Investigators are examining what substances may have contributed to the emergency and how those drugs were obtained.
A police report previously obtained by ABC News said Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present when authorities responded. The report also stated that Brian showed officers a bag containing medication Panettiere was reportedly taking.
Hickerson’s attorney said Aug. 20 that Panettiere’s death remained under investigation and noted that police had confirmed there were no signs of foul play.
Panettiere died Aug. 16 at age 36 after being found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. First responders attempted resuscitation after finding her in cardiac arrest, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Before her death, Panettiere had publicly discussed substance abuse in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, and in interviews. She previously described entering rehabilitation in 2020 after experiencing serious health consequences related to her substance use.
Director Griff Furst, who worked with Panettiere on A Breed Apart, said he had been rooting for her recovery from addiction. He also revealed that he had been asked to participate in a possible intervention involving the actress.
Furst said the intervention ultimately did not take place, at least to his knowledge. He emphasized that people working on productions may recognize that someone is struggling but may not have enough verified information or time to intervene directly.
The investigation remains active in both Los Angeles and South Carolina. Authorities are continuing to examine the possible source of drugs connected to Panettiere, while toxicology testing is expected to help determine the official cause and manner of death.
Until those results are available, claims that Panettiere’s death was officially caused by fentanyl or an overdose should be treated as unconfirmed.
