The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is investigating a series of messages exchanged between actress Hayden Panettiere and her suspected long-time drug dealer prior to her death, according to reports.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation told TMZ that Panettiere, who was 36 when she died last month, had been urging the dealer to find "black market pills" before her sudden passing. The exchange of messages, which reportedly date back years, are now a focal point for the DEA's probe.
Panettiere had previously been open about her struggles with drug addiction. She died from what is believed to be a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill. The actress had reportedly carried a bag of various pills from Los Angeles to South Carolina for a vacation with her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, shortly before her death.
Hickerson was reportedly present when Panettiere was found unresponsive and administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Investigators are working to trace the fatal pill back to the dealer accused of selling it to her.
No arrests have been made in connection with Panettiere's death, and the official toxicology report has not yet been released. Hickerson reportedly met with DEA investigators last week and provided them with a bag of Panettiere's medications, which could potentially reveal other laced substances.
Neighbors of Panettiere had also reported observing three individuals, suspected to be drug dealers, frequenting her Los Angeles apartment over the years. These individuals would reportedly arrive separately, deliver small bags to Panettiere, and leave quickly.
Panettiere's death followed a long battle with alcohol and opiates. In 2020, she spent eight months in rehabilitation after contracting jaundice, and had stated that a doctor warned her she would die within five years if she did not stop drinking.
Hickerson has faced multiple domestic violence charges related to their relationship, including serving jail time in 2021 for allegedly injuring her. Panettiere detailed instances of physical abuse in her 2026 memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning."
Following Panettiere's death, Hickerson's brother, Zachary, was arrested for disorderly conduct after an incident where he and Brian were reportedly heckled about the actress's overdose. He was later released on bond.
Authorities responded to Panettiere's South Carolina apartment after a 911 call from an acquaintance described her as "unresponsive." Dispatch audio indicated she suffered cardiac arrest, with a subsequent mention of a suspected overdose. Autopsy results have been completed, with no signs of trauma found on her body.
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, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 from "an enlarged heart."