The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is investigating a "slew of messages" between the late actress Hayden Panettiere and a suspected long-time drug dealer in the period leading up to her death, according to reports. Panettiere, 36, died last month from what is believed to be a fentanyl-laced pill.
Sources close to the investigation told TMZ that the messages, which reportedly date back years, indicate Panettiere was urging her drug dealer to procure "black market pills." The DEA's involvement suggests a focus on tracing the source of the drugs that led to her death.
Panettiere had been open about her past struggles with drug addiction. On the day she died, she had reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, carrying a bag of "various pills." Investigators believe she may have overdosed on a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill shortly after arriving.
Hickerson reportedly administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, after finding Panettiere unresponsive in their rental apartment. Police are working to identify the dealer who allegedly supplied the fatal pill. No arrests have been made, and the official toxicology report has not yet been released.
Hickerson reportedly met with DEA investigators last week. He is said to have provided police with a bag of Panettiere's medications, which could potentially reveal other substances laced with fentanyl. Neighbors had previously reported seeing three suspicious individuals, whom they suspected were drug dealers, frequenting Panettiere's apartment over several years.
The actress's death occurred after a prolonged battle with alcohol and opiates. She had previously undergone an eight-month rehab program in 2020 and had written about a doctor's warning that she would likely die within five years if she did not stop drinking.
Hickerson was present at the scene when Panettiere was pronounced dead. Their relationship had been marked by turbulence, with Hickerson facing multiple domestic violence charges, including a jail sentence in 2021 for allegedly injuring her. Panettiere detailed instances of physical abuse in her 2026 memoir.
Following Panettiere's death, Hickerson's brother, Zachary, was arrested for disorderly conduct in connection with a bar fight that occurred after he and Brian were reportedly heckled about the overdose. Zachary Hickerson was released on bond.
Details surrounding Panettiere's death at the South Carolina apartment continue to emerge. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that an autopsy was completed and found no signs of trauma on her body. The initial 911 call described her as suffering cardiac arrest, with a subsequent dispatch noting a suspected overdose.
Panettiere was widely known for her roles as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the NBC series "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes in "Nashville," for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. She also appeared in the "Scream" franchise and voiced characters in video games.
Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 from "an enlarged heart." Hayden Panettiere had spoken about the profound grief following his death, stating she felt like she had "lost half of her soul."