Police in Greenville, South Carolina, have closed their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere after ruling it accidental. The Greenville Police Department said on Wednesday that it had “concluded its investigation” into the death of the 36-year-old, who starred in “Heroes” and “Nashville”.
“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.
Panettiere was pronounced dead at an apartment in Greenville on August 16 after paramedics found her unresponsive. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office ruled last month that she died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and other drugs, including Xanax, and found no signs of trauma.
Investigators had also looked into whether Panettiere obtained illicit and possibly counterfeit drugs from a dealer in Southern California, according to CNN. The US Drug Enforcement Administration joined that inquiry, and it remains unclear whether the federal investigation is still open. Greenville police spokesperson Sgt. Diana Munoz said she could not speak on whether any other agency is still looking into the death.
Panettiere began acting as a child and built a long screen career, with roles in “Remember the Titans”, “Bring It On: All or Nothing”, the “Scream” films, “Heroes” and “Nashville”. She spoke publicly about addiction and postpartum depression, including in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning”, published in May.
Her former fiance, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, was granted legal status by a California court this month to protect Panettiere’s property for their 11-year-old daughter, her sole heir, according to the Associated Press.
Source: CNN
