Tragic Passing of Hayden Panettiere
UPDATE 1:15 PM – Recent dispatch recordings reveal that actress Hayden Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest at a home in Greenville, South Carolina, following a suspected overdose.
Authorities responded after receiving a call about an “unresponsive female” around 1:51 p.m. local time. During the dispatch, discussions about a potential “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” were noted.
Officials reported that Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. local time after resuscitation efforts and advanced cardiac life support did not succeed.
“At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” said Greenville coroner Mike Ellis. “The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation, and this investigation is still ongoing. No further details are available at this time.”
According to Ellis, Panettiere was “temporarily staying” at the residence where she was found, and a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department mentioned that “an acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
8:54 AM – The actress, who gained fame from shows like “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died, her representative confirmed to ABC News.
Panettiere was just 36 years old when she passed away in South Carolina on Sunday.
Her representative, Kasey Kitchen, stated that the investigation into her death is “ongoing.”
“There’s an investigation ongoing,” Kitchen noted. “We should know more tomorrow.”
Initial police reports indicated no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances in relation to her death.
Her father has requested privacy for the family as they mourn her loss, expressing the need to process “this unimaginable loss.”
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to ABC News on Sunday. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
Panettiere started her prolific career as a child star, known for her role as Sheryl Yoast in “Remember the Titans.” She later gained widespread recognition for portraying Claire Bennet in “Heroes” and Juliette Barnes in “Nashville.”
She published a memoir, “This is Me: A Reckoning,” in May, in which she spoke about her life in the public eye and her battles with addiction and recovery.
Panettiere leaves behind a daughter, Kaya Klitschko, born in 2014 during her relationship with heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
In a candid appearance on “Good Morning America” in 2022, she shared her struggles with alcoholism and postpartum depression.
Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 28 in February 2023, with the family stating that his death was due to complications from an enlarged heart and aortic valve issues.
Panettiere was set to celebrate her 37th birthday this coming Friday.
