The autopsy for actress Hayden Panettiere has been completed, revealing no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office stated that the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation, with additional studies to be completed. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
First responders were dispatched on August 16, 2026, following a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest at approximately 1:51 PM. Emergency Medical Services arrived at the scene and found Panettiere unresponsive. Despite resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department both responded to the location where the 36-year-old, who had been temporarily staying in South Carolina, was found.
Reports indicate that authorities responded to a potential overdose call, with CPR in progress. Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate Panettiere before she was pronounced dead. She had reportedly traveled to South Carolina from Los Angeles with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who is from the state.
Panettiere had been open about her struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction, which she attributed in part to postpartum depression. She previously shared that she was offered substances at age 15 to appear more energetic during interviews, a practice she later recognized as a gateway to her addiction. The actress also continued to struggle with heavy drinking and occasional opioid use.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. Her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Her father, Alan Lee “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed the "tragic passing" in a statement to Page Six, describing her as "an incredible light and a force of nature." He requested privacy for the family as they process their loss.