Nearly one month after actress Hayden Panettiere died in South Carolina, investigators are pursuing leads across the country as they work to determine what role drugs may have played in her death.
ABC News reported Monday that the investigation now spans both Los Angeles and South Carolina, with authorities examining what substances could have contributed to the 36-year-old's death and attempting to trace their origin.
Law enforcement sources believe Panettiere consumed a single oxycodone pill contaminated with fentanyl, according to TMZ. Sources with knowledge of the case indicated the actress had connections to a Los Angeles-based dealer who allegedly supplied her with black-market prescription medications prior to her death. The Drug Enforcement Administration is working to track the pill back to its alleged source.
Toxicology results remain pending and are expected to provide additional clarity regarding the circumstances of Panettiere's death, TMZ noted.
A representative for Panettiere addressed the latest developments in a statement to Celebrity News: Latest Celeb News & Pictures - Us Weekly. "The investigation is still ongoing. Law enforcement has not disclosed who they are targeting, but I am told the case is complex. We hope to have more answers soon," the representative told Celebrity News: Latest Celeb News & Pictures - Us Weekly.
The Heroes actress died on August 16 after traveling to South Carolina with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson. She was 36 years old.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office received a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest. Emergency responders arrived at the scene but were unable to revive the woman, who was later confirmed to be Panettiere.
Both the Greenville County Coroner's Office and the Greenville City Police Department confirmed they are conducting a parallel investigation into the death. An autopsy found no signs of trauma, though officials have not yet released an official cause of death.
Hickerson, 36, was present when Panettiere was discovered. The couple began their relationship in 2018, which was marked by turbulence and resulted in multiple domestic violence arrests involving Hickerson.
Hickerson's attorney issued a statement to Celebrity News: Latest Celeb News & Pictures - Us Weekly emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation. The statement noted that police confirmed there were no signs of foul play and requested that the investigation be allowed to proceed without further public comment out of respect for Panettiere's loved ones.
Panettiere's representative previously criticized online speculation surrounding the actress's death in a statement shared exclusively with Celebrity News: Latest Celeb News & Pictures - Us Weekly last month. The representative condemned individuals who were not close to Panettiere for using her death to spread gossip about circumstances they knew little about, calling such behavior deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those grieving her loss, Celebrity News: Latest Celeb News & Pictures - Us Weekly reported.
The statement further indicated that there is more to the situation than what has been publicly discussed, and that those closest to Panettiere are cooperating with investigators to ensure the truth emerges and justice is served.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
