Hayden Panettiere’s Death Ruled an Accident by Coroner

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has determined that Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and several other drugs. Her death was ruled an accident, according to findings released on September 22 and confirmed in separate reports by Variety and Deadline.

The coroner’s findings

The official determination listed fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. The coroner’s statement also said there were no signs of trauma that contributed to the death.

Panettiere died on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina. She was 36. Variety reported that a 911 call concerning a cardiac arrest was placed shortly before 2 p.m. First responders found her unconscious at the residence where she was temporarily staying and attempted life-support measures before she was pronounced dead. Police previously said their preliminary investigation showed no indication of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

A career that began in childhood

Panettiere started acting as a child and appeared on the daytime dramas One Life to Live and Guiding Light. Her film work included Remember the Titans, Ice Princess and Bring It On: All or Nothing.

She became widely known as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative powers on NBC’s Heroes. She later played country singer Juliette Barnes on ABC’s Nashville, a performance that earned her two Golden Globe nominations. Horror audiences also knew her as Kirby Reed in Scream 4 and Scream VI.

Her public account of addiction

During her life, Panettiere spoke publicly about addiction and the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry. She stepped away from acting for several years before returning to the Scream franchise in 2023. In May 2026, she published the memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, addressing parts of that experience in her own words.

The coroner’s report supplies the formal medical conclusion that was not available when her death was first announced. It also closes one part of the public record while her television and film work continues to introduce her performances to new viewers.