Hayden Panettiere reportedly died after taking pill laced with fentanyl
Reports have emerged claiming that Hayden Panettiere's tragic death was the result of her taking a pill that was laced with fentanyl.
Hollywood has been in mourning in the weeks since the devastating news broke that the actress had been found unresponsive at a home in South Carolina on 16 August.
Authorities in Los Angeles are now working under the assumption that the 36-year-old star fatefully consumed a oxycodone pill which was laced with fentanyl, according to TMZ.
Law enforcement have been rigorously investigating the circumstances surrounding Panettiere's untimely passing which stunned the world last month.
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The preliminary findings of her autopsy were released in August, which confirmed that first responders arrived to find her suffering a cardiac arrest before administering life-saving measures, which were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office previously released a statement explaining that 'no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death'.
The coroner said at the time that further probes were being conducted to determine the 'cause and manner' of the Panettiere's death.
The full autopsy report is set to be released in October, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In wake of the death of Panettiere - a child star best known for her roles in Scream, Heroes and Nashville - reports emerged suggesting that she had suffered an apparent overdose.
Audio of the frantic 911 call made by one of her pals is said to have included discussion of an 'overdose' and a 'cardiac arrest', People previously reported.
It has since been alleged that authorities suspect that Panettiere took a pill on the day of her passing, which had deadly ramifications.
According to TMZ, officials believe that she consumed a substance that may have been laced with fentanyl, a highly addictive and fast-acting opioid which is 100 times more potent than morphine.
Sources close to the case are said to be looking into the suggestion that Panettiere had a 'long time drug dealer', who allegedly provided her with drugs the day prior to her death.
Officials suspect that she consumed an oxycodone pill on the morning of 16 August which contained fentanyl. Toxicology tests are underway which officials believe will prove this theory.
Los Angeles authorities are also said to be looking into the relationship between Panettiere and the person who allegedly sourced prescription drugs for the late actress.
Panettiere is said to have arranged to purchase some while flying from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before her passing, TMZ reported.
LADbible Group has reached out to Greenville South Carolina police for comment.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is 'mixed in with other illicit drugs to increase the potency of the drug'.
It warns: "There is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction.
"Producing illicit fentanyl is not an exact science. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage."
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, who she shared with former fiancé and boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
The actress candidly discussed her battles with addiction and postpartum depression before her death and released a tell-all memoir in May delving into her struggles.
The update comes as her former boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were both handcuffed by police after a heated exchange in a South Carolina restaurant erupted after they were allegedly heckled about Panettiere's death.
Topics: Hayden Panettiere, Celebrity News, US News, Drugs
Olivia Burke