Hayden Panettiere's death investigation officially closed as authorities confirm accidental ruling
The death of Heroes’ star Hayden Panettiere has been ruled as accidental and the investigation into her death has been officially closed, police have said.
Panettiere passed away in South Carolina on 16 August aged just 36.
Greenville Police Department said in a report that 'officers responded to a report of an unresponsive female' at around 1.50 on 16 August and that the mum-of-one was found dead at the scene.
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother and his brother Zach, 38, were with the Nashville star when she passed away.
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In the wake of her death, police announced that an investigation had been launched, but today (28 October) Greenville Police Department has confirmed the investigation has been closed.
“Based on the Medical Examiner’s determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental,” Greenville PD said in a statement shared with Deadline.
It added: “The Greenville Police Department has concluded its investigation.”
Last month, Greenville County Coroner’s Office said Panettiere had died of the 'toxic effects' of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine.
There were no signs of trauma, the coroner's office said.
Her death was also ruled as accidental by the coroner’s office.
However, even after the coroner ruled Panettiere’s death accidental, authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, continued their investigation into her death until today.
In an earlier statement, cops had said a preliminary investigation had ‘not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances’.
In a statement released following the coroner’s report last month, a rep for Panettiere urged people not to speculate about the details surrounding her death and to wait for officials to comment.
In the statement shared in September, the rep said: “As reported yesterday by the Greenville County Coroner's Office, Hayden's death remains under investigation pending the completion of toxicology results, despite reports from some outlets stating otherwise.
“Recent reports attributed to unnamed sources are unverified hearsay and have attributed to conflicting information that continues to circulate. While we are all eager to find closure and better understand the circumstances surrounding her passing, we must remain patient and allow the investigative process to unfold.”
Panettiere appeared on screen for the first time at just 11 months old in a commercial before securing a role in US soaps One Life to Live aged just four.
When she was nine-years-old she made her feature film debut as the narrator and voice of Princess Dot in A Bug's Life, for which she nominated for a Young Artist Award and Grammy Award.
However, she’s perhaps best-known for the role of Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with healing powers, on the hit NBC series Heroes.
She later played Juliette Barnes on the musical drama Nashville, earning herself several award nominations and appearing in six seasons of the popular show.
She also made several appearances on the big screen, with roles in Scream 4, Remember the Titans, and Raising Helen.
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, just weeks before her death, delving into her struggles.
Claire Reid