Hayden Panettiere death investigation: Police reveal update after it was ruled accidental

The investigation into the death of Hayden Panettiere has been called off more than two months after she died.

The 36-year-old actress was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16 after an acquaintance called emergency services about 1.50pm reporting cardiac arrest.

Despite resuscitation efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2.32pm. Her cause of death was ruled as an accidental drug overdose.

On Wednesday, the Greenville police department announced that the investigation was closed.

“Based on the (coroner office’s) determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental, the statement read, as published by CNN.

“The Greenville Police Department has concluded its investigation.”

In late September, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office detailed their findings.

“The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine,” the statement published by Variety read.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiod, 4-ANPP is used in the illegal manufacturing of fentanyl, Alprazolam is a prescription anxiety medication better known as Xanax, Methocarbamol is a prescription muscle relaxant, and Quetiapine is an anti-psychotic medication often used to treat bipolar and schizophrenia.

The coroner said there were “no signs of trauma”.

“The manner of death has been ruled (an) accident,” it continued.

Panettiere had been acting for almost her entire life, beginning her career as a child performer before appearing in Remember the Titans and later finding international fame in Heroes.

She went on to play country singer Juliette Barnes across six seasons of Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations, and also appeared in the Scream franchise.

Her death came just months after the release of her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she spoke candidly about the darker periods behind her Hollywood career.

The memoir detailed her experiences with addiction and recovery, post-partum depression, trauma, domestic abuse and loss, alongside the pressures she faced growing up in the entertainment industry.

Panettiere also wrote about the struggles she faced following the 2014 birth of her daughter Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé and Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.