American actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36 after being found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services received a 911 call at 1:51 p.m. reporting that a woman was unconscious at the property. Dispatch audio records indicated that the caller reported a cardiac arrest, with subsequent radio traffic raising the possibility of an overdose at the scene.
First responders and police officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an effort to revive her upon arrival. Medical personnel pronounced Panettiere dead at 2:32 p.m., approximately 40 minutes after the initial emergency call was logged.
Emergency call and police response
Greenville Police confirmed that an acquaintance of the actress made the emergency call after discovering her unconscious inside the apartment.
Law enforcement officials stated that emergency medical aid was administered immediately upon arrival, but the individual identified as Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police noted that preliminary investigations revealed no evidence of foul play or criminal activity. The case remains open while authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding her death.
An official cause of death has not been released. Authorities are waiting for the results of further forensic and toxicology tests.
Medication found at the scene
Reports from American media outlets indicate that investigators found Narcan inside the apartment. Narcan is a nasal spray formulation of naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
It remains unconfirmed whether the medication was administered in the hours preceding her death or if it played a direct role in the event.
Panettiere had arrived in South Carolina from Los Angeles just one day before her death. She was traveling with her partner, real estate agent Brian Hickerson, who is originally from the local area.
Final social media update
The actress made her final social media update on July 27. The post featured a black-and-white photograph of herself alongside director and photographer Randall Slavin.
Panettiere began her career as a child performer, gaining international prominence for her leading roles in television series including Heroes and Nashville, as well as her appearances in the Scream horror film franchise.
Personal struggles and family life
Her death follows years of public openness regarding her struggles with mental health, addiction, and severe postpartum depression.
In her memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere detailed the severe complications she experienced after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. The delivery involved significant bleeding and required seven blood transfusions, leading to postpartum depression and subsequent alcohol dependency.
In 2018, Panettiere made the decision to relinquish full custody of her daughter to her former fiancé, retired Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
She later explained that the choice was extremely painful but necessary, stating that she needed to prioritize her child's well-being so she could receive treatment and become the mother her daughter deserved.
Just months prior to her passing, Panettiere reflected positively on her progress, sharing that she felt she had overcome the darkness in her life and still had much to look forward to.
Tributes from Hollywood colleagues
Following the news of her death, friends and fellow actors expressed widespread grief across social media platforms.
Her Scream co-star Melissa Barrera shared a message online wishing peace for her late colleague. Actress Selma Blair commented on Panettiere's final social media post, writing that she loved her and urging her not to leave.
Singer JoJo and television personality Rosie O'Donnell also paid public tributes to the actress.
Family privacy request
Panettiere's family released a statement asking the public and media to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Law enforcement authorities state that the investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing, with official findings pending the outcome of forensic examinations.
