Actress Hayden Panettiere died after ingesting a pill that was allegedly laced with fentanyl, according to a report from TMZ.
Panettiere, 36, died in Greenville, South Carolina. Sources told TMZ that the actress allegedly took oxycodone that was mixed with fentanyl. The powerful opioid, which is 50 times stronger than heroin, can cause a fatal overdose even in small amounts.
The actress reportedly purchased several black-market prescription drugs, including oxycodone, in Los Angeles from a dealer she had known for a long time. Panettiere and her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, had traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where Hickerson is from, the day before her death.
According to TMZ, Panettiere consumed several drugs purchased in Los Angeles during the flight. Authorities reportedly believe the pill she took on the morning of her death contained fentanyl.
Hickerson administered Narcan, a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, after finding Panettiere unresponsive. Police are reportedly working to trace the pill back to the alleged seller.
Panettiere was known for her roles in the NBC series "Heroes" and the musical drama "Nashville." Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to an apartment building in Greenville after receiving a 911 call from an acquaintance who described Panettiere as unresponsive. Dispatch audio indicated the call, made at 1:51 p.m., described Panettiere as suffering from cardiac arrest, with a later comment suggesting a suspected overdose.
