Hayden Panettiere's Cause of Death Still Pending as Investigation Spans Two States

Nearly a month after Hayden Panettiere’s death on August 16, there’s still no official cause of death. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said this week that nothing has been released yet, and it will send out an email when the findings are ready. Panettiere was 36 when she died in South Carolina, where she had traveled with her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.

What has come out is the scope of the investigation. ABC News reports the case now spans Los Angeles and South Carolina, with investigators focused on what drugs were involved and where they came from. TMZ reports that law enforcement sources believe Panettiere took one oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl, and the DEA is reportedly working to trace that pill to an alleged dealer in Los Angeles. Panettiere’s rep has pushed back on the wave of speculation, saying many people who weren’t close to her are driving gossip while her loved ones cooperate with authorities.

For families here at home, the details are a sobering reminder of how dangerous black-market pills have become. One pill can be the difference between a normal night and a tragedy, and fentanyl doesn’t care who you are or where you’re from. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, the SAMHSA helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357.

Have you talked with your family about the dangers of fentanyl-laced pills? Tell us in the comments.