Inquiry into Panettiere’s death expands to include DEA
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The investigation into Hayden Panettiere's death has expanded, with TMZ reporting that Drug Enforcement Administration agents are now assisting the parallel inquiries being carried out by the Greenville County Coroner's Office and Greenville Police Department in South Carolina, according to sources. The case echoes the DEA's 2023 involvement in the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, when high levels of ketamine were found in his system; that multi-agency probe led to five arrests and convictions, including two doctors and a supplier known as the "Ketamine Queen".
Panettiere, best known for Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, was found dead on Sunday aged 36 at an apartment complex in Greenville. The coroner's office says her cause and manner of death remain pending, with no obvious signs of trauma, though officials were reportedly heard discussing "overdose" and "cardiac arrest" on the 911 call. A police report noted her on-off boyfriend and his brother were present when she was pronounced dead, and he was later visited by police. Panettiere had previously written openly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction in her memoir, published earlier this year.
- DEA now assisting Greenville coroner and police in Panettiere death probe
- Case draws parallels to DEA's Matthew Perry investigation
- Cause of death still pending; overdose and cardiac arrest mentioned on 911 call
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Panettiere, an actress known for roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream films, was found dead on Sunday at the age of 36 at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Officials have not yet determined how or why she died, and no obvious signs of trauma were reported at the scene.
The death is being examined jointly by the Greenville County Coroner's Office and the Greenville Police Department, and it has since emerged that the Drug Enforcement Administration is also assisting the inquiry. The DEA typically becomes involved in death investigations when illegal drug use or supply is suspected as a factor, though no conclusions have been announced.
This case draws comparisons to the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry, which also involved a DEA investigation after high levels of the anaesthetic ketamine were found in his system, ultimately resulting in several arrests. Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about past struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction, which adds context to why investigators are examining these lines of inquiry, though this does not indicate what caused her death.
More coverage
- The Hollywood Reporter — Jack Coleman Remembers ‘Heroes’ Co-Star Hayden Panettiere, Says He‘s “Filled With Sorrow, Regret and Anger” Over Death
- Fox News — Hayden Panettiere death: DEA reportedly joins probe into what happened to late star
- Variety — Hayden Panettiere’s Death: DEA Joins Investigation
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “DEA Joins Investigation Into Hayden Panettiere’s Death, Sources Say”.