Hayden Panettiere Secretly Entered Rehab Weeks Before Her Death
Hayden Panettiere had recently completed a stay at a Malibu rehab facility and had previously been given Narcan in the period before her death, according to a newly released coroner's report.
The 36-year-old Nashville star died Aug. 16 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Greenville County Coroner's Office has ruled her death an accident caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.
What the Coroner's Report Reveals
According to a detailed coroner's report obtained by Page Six, one of the Hickerson brothers told investigators the actress had been in a drug rehab facility in Malibu until a few weeks before her death. The name in the report is redacted, so it's unclear whether this was Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, or his brother, Zach.
The same brother claimed Panettiere had a long history of drug, alcohol and nitrous oxide abuse. He also told investigators he "has had to administer Narcan to the decedent before." Narcan is an emergency medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. The report does not say when or where that earlier incident took place.
He added that he was unaware of her using any illegal substances in the day before her death but said she was very good at hiding them.
Her Father Confirmed the Rehab Stay
Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, separately confirmed to the investigator that his daughter had recently been released from rehab in Malibu. He said she spent two or three weeks in treatment there.
He also told the investigator that she "suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter," Kaya, now 11, according to The Blast. He said her addiction issues had escalated since then.
Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles for years. She first entered treatment in 2015 while filming the fourth season of Nashville, and she later described that period in stark terms.
"I was drowning," she told Women's Health.
She also wrote about her battles with alcoholism and depression in a memoir released just months before her death.
The Final Hours
Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had flown to Greenville from Los Angeles the day before she died. She had been staying temporarily at an apartment at the Judson Mill Lofts.
According to the new report, Hickerson said he woke up around 10 or 10:30 a.m. that Sunday and saw Panettiere applying her makeup in the bathroom. The two ate cereal together before he fell back asleep in the bedroom.
Dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a woman in cardiac arrest at approximately 1:51 p.m. First responders attempted advanced cardiac life support, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., FOX Carolina reported.
An autopsy found no signs of contributing trauma. Toxicology testing also detected naloxone, the drug sold as Narcan, and cotinine in her system.
Police Investigation Remains Open
With the cause and manner of death established, the coroner's office has administratively closed its case. The Greenville Police Department, however, says its independent investigation is still active.
"Our detectives will continue to follow leads and gather information," the department said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration declined to comment, saying it does not discuss specific investigations to protect the integrity of ongoing work.
Anyone struggling with substance use can call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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