Hayden Panettiere’s representative has pushed back against claims that the actress died after taking a single fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill.
The rep, speaking to the outlet, said the 36-year-old’s death “remains under investigation pending the completion of toxicology results, despite reports from some outlets stating otherwise.” The statement came after the outlet published an account earlier this week attributing the “Heroes” alum’s death to a counterfeit painkiller.
“Recent reports attributed to unnamed sources are unverified hearsay and have attributed to conflicting information that continues to circulate,” the representative added.
The spokesperson urged patience as officials work to determine what happened. “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. The answers we are all seeking will come.”
The outlet had reported that investigators believe Panettiere consumed the laced pill on the morning she died, and that she allegedly obtained several drugs from a “long-time drug dealer” in Los Angeles during her flight to South Carolina the day before. According to that report, years of text conversations between Panettiere and the alleged dealer have become central to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s probe, with a federal source saying the pair “were very specific about purchasing black market pills.”
Last month, DEA agents searched Panettiere’s Los Angeles home, reportedly seeking drugs she may have been using and testing whether any contained fentanyl. The synthetic opioid is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Panettiere was found unresponsive on August 16 in a Greenville, South Carolina, Airbnb by Zach Hickerson, the brother of her boyfriend Brian Hickerson. Brian performed CPR and administered Narcan, the opioid-overdose reversal medication, after she was discovered. EMS workers performed life-saving measures for nearly an hour before pronouncing her dead at the scene.
A police report indicated the “I Love You, Beth Cooper” star had a “bag of medication” with her at the time of death. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has not yet released toxicology results that would confirm what substances were in her system.
The conflicting accounts have left fans and family waiting for official answers. Panettiere’s representative emphasized that the coroner’s ongoing investigation is the only authoritative source, not media reports citing unnamed sources.
The actress, who rose to fame as a child star before headlining the NBC superhero drama “Heroes” and later the ABC musical series “Nashville,” had been open about her struggles with substance abuse in recent years. She spoke in multiple interviews about entering treatment and working to maintain her sobriety.
The DEA investigation continues as authorities examine the alleged drug supply chain and whether counterfeit medications played a role in the death.
