The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating a "slew of messages" exchanged between actress Hayden Panettiere and her alleged drug dealer in the week before her suspected overdose death, sources told TMZ. Panettiere, 36, reportedly met with the individual in Los Angeles before traveling to South Carolina, where she was found dead on Aug. 16.
Neighbors in West Hollywood claimed to have seen two women and a man in his mid-30s frequently visit Panettiere's home between 2021 and her death. These individuals would allegedly drop off bags, which the actress would then retrieve without them entering her residence. One neighbor reported seeing a man drop off a bag labeled "Brian" approximately one week before Panettiere's death, though it remains unclear if this was related to her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
Panettiere was found unresponsive in an Airbnb. While initial reports suggested she took a pill believed to be oxycodone laced with fentanyl, an official cause of death has not yet been released by coroners. Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, was reportedly found at the scene.
Hickerson has reportedly met with DEA officials as part of the ongoing investigation.
Fentanyl-laced pills have become a significant concern, with the DEA seizing over 47 million such pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2025. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are implicated in nearly 70% of overdose deaths, and even small doses can be fatal. In December 2025, President Trump classified fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction."