Fentanyl, Xanax found in Hayden Panettiere’s system after S.C. death. Police close investigation

The Greenville Police Department in South Carolina has closed its investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere and no charges have been filed.

The investigation results agree with the Greenville County Coroner’s ruling that Panettiere died of an accidental drug overdose.

Toxicology results showed Panettiere had fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine in her system when she died on Aug. 16 in a Greenville apartment.

Fentanyl is both a prescribed medication and an illegal drug, the Centers for Disease Control said.

“Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine,” the CDC said.

It is used for managing pain.

“Illegally made fentanyl is manufactured in underground labs and distributed on the street. It is often mixed into or sold as other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, or pressed into counterfeit prescription pills,” the CDC said.

Alprazolam is more commonly known as Xanax and is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Methocarbamol or Robaxin is a prescription skeletal muscle relaxant. Quetiapine, known as Seroquel, is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

The coroner’s office said there were no signs of trauma found during an autopsy.

This case was administratively closed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in September.

Panettiere, 36, who lived in California, was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest around 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville, South Carolina.

She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. With her at the time was her on again, off again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zachary. Zachary Hickerson called 911 and said he had walked into the apartment from church and found her unresponsive.

“Is she breathing,” the dispatcher says.

“No I don’t think so,” Hickerson responds, his voice shaky.

The dispatcher coaches him to begin CPR.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he said.

The actress best known for “Heroes” and “Nashville” wrote in her memoir about her struggles with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. She said she experienced anxiety and postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter.

This story was originally published October 29, 2026 at 5:58 AM with the headline "Fentanyl, Xanax found in Hayden Panettiere’s system after S.C. death. Police close investigation."