Hayden Panettiere Case: DEA Investigating Alleged Drug Texts as Coroner Waits on Toxicology

Hayden Panettiere died on August 16 in South Carolina at the age of 36, and the questions surrounding her death are still unanswered. TMZ reports that she exchanged a large number of drug-related text messages with a person described as an alleged dealer, and that those messages are now a central focus of a DEA investigation. Investigators are also reportedly trying to trace a pill that law enforcement sources theorize may have been laced with fentanyl. A preliminary autopsy found no signs of trauma, and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office says the official cause and manner of death will not be determined until toxicology results come back.

Her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was at the scene and provided authorities with medication, according to the reporting. A representative for Panettiere issued a statement asking people not to use her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation, adding that the investigation should be allowed to proceed. Those close to the case have been clear that much of what is circulating online has not been confirmed.

For families in our listening area, the fentanyl detail is the one worth sitting with. Black-market pills pressed to look like everyday prescriptions have been linked to overdose deaths across the country, and a single dose can be fatal. The CDC and local health departments continue to urge parents to talk with their kids about never taking a pill that didn’t come from a pharmacy, and to keep naloxone on hand where it’s legal. If someone you love is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text.

What’s your approach when it comes to talking with your family about the dangers of fake pills? Let us know in the comments.