Police close investigation into death of actress Hayden Panettiere

The Greenville Police Department in South Carolina has officially closed its investigation into the death of American actress Hayden Panettiere. BBC News, Variety, The Wrap, and Deadline all reported that law enforcement authorities ruled her death an accident on Wednesday. [1][2][3][4]

According to BBC News and The Wrap, Panettiere died in August at the age of 36. Authorities stated that the medical examiner determined her death was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax, and several other drugs in her system. [1][3]

In a statement provided to media outlets, the Greenville Police Department confirmed that it concluded its investigation based on the findings of the medical examiner. BBC News reported that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency had joined the local investigation, though it remains unclear if the federal inquiry has also ended. [1][2][3][4]

Panettiere earned early television roles on soap operas including One Life to Live and Guiding Light, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for A Bug's Life Read-Along. Her later credits included roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, as well as feature films such as Remember the Titans and entries in the Scream franchise. [1][10][11]