Hayden Panettiere Released From Rehab Weeks Before Overdose Death

Hayden Panettiere was released from a drug rehabilitation facility just weeks before her death from an overdose, according to a new report.

Panettiere, 36, died on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present when she was pronounced dead. The Greenville County Medical Examiner's report confirmed her death was accidental, caused by the "toxic effects" of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.

According to the report obtained by Page Six, Panettiere had been residing in a drug rehab facility in Malibu, California, until a few weeks before her passing. One of the Hickerson brothers stated that Panettiere had a "long history of drug, alcohol and nitrous oxide abuse" and that he had previously administered Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, to her.

The same brother told a deputy coroner that he was unsure if Panettiere had used illicit drugs in the two days prior to her death, as she was skilled at concealing her substance use.

The report also detailed that pressed pills testing positive for fentanyl, along with a straw and white powder in a sunglasses case, were found near Panettiere's body. Two doses of Narcan were administered by Brian Hickerson after her overdose, prior to him calling 911.

Authorities had previously believed Panettiere had fatally consumed a single oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl, obtained from a dealer in Los Angeles the day before her death. The medical examiner's report listed the cause of death as "toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine," with the manner of death ruled as an accident. Alprazolam is commonly known as Xanax, and Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication.

Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, told investigators that his daughter had planned to celebrate her 37th birthday on August 21 in Greenville before traveling to Ukraine to see her daughter. The actress is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whose father is Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

In 2018, Panettiere transferred full custody of Kaya to Klitschko amid her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction, and Klitschko moved their daughter to Ukraine. Panettiere began her acting career as a child, gaining wider recognition for her role in "Remember the Titans" and as the voice of Dot in Pixar's "A Bug's Life." She later achieved fame as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the NBC series "Heroes" and as Juliette Barnes in the ABC show "Nashville."

Brian Hickerson's lawyer stated that police confirmed there were no signs of foul play in Panettiere's death and that the investigation was ongoing.