The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reportedly joined the investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, according to TMZ. Panettiere was pronounced dead on Sunday at age 36. Greenville Police and the coroner's office are conducting parallel investigations.
The DEA's reported involvement aligns with initial reports from first responders who noted a suspected overdose. Paramedics reportedly found Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, inside the apartment where Panettiere was discovered. The coroner's office is awaiting toxicology results to confirm the cause of death.
Panettiere's estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, confirmed on Wednesday that a narcotics investigator has joined the case. Vogel expressed uncertainty about the current status of the probe and criticized Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend, stating he was with her at the time of her death. Vogel has previously expressed concern over Hickerson's influence on Panettiere.
In the past, Panettiere's neighbors were reportedly warned to call the police if Hickerson was seen on her property. A temporary warning poster featuring Hickerson's face was placed outside Panettiere's West Hollywood condo in late August 2025, according to a neighbor who spoke to TMZ. The poster, put up by the Homeowners Association (HOA), warned that Hickerson had been trespassing and advised residents not to grant him access to the building, instructing them to call 911 immediately if he was seen on the premises.
The neighbor, Mia Terrazas, stated that the poster was removed about a week later and that Hickerson was no longer considered a threat. Terrazas described Hickerson as dangerous and claimed that he had lived at Panettiere's condo for two years, allegedly continuing to do so even after a court-issued no-contact order was in place. She also told Inside Edition that she had called 911 at least half a dozen times due to disturbances at the condo.
Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present at the scene when Panettiere was pronounced dead. According to court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Hickerson had a history of domestic violence allegations involving Panettiere. In 2020, he faced charges stemming from alleged domestic violence incidents, during which he reportedly sent Panettiere intimidating text messages. He ultimately pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, with other charges dropped. He was sentenced to jail time and probation, which he completed on August 1, 2026.
Despite the history of alleged abuse, Panettiere and Hickerson had reportedly reconciled. They were seen together as recently as March 2026. In May 2026, Hickerson publicly acknowledged his past actions, stating, "I got arrested for abusing her... I had a lot to drink and I got physical with her. I got arrested."
Panettiere, known for her role in "Heroes" and "Nashville," had publicly spoken about her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction to opioids and alcohol, and had previously relinquished custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018. She had entered a treatment center for an eight-month rehab stint in 2020. The status of her sobriety at the time of her death remains unclear.