Overview
- Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at a Greenville Airbnb and was pronounced dead on Sunday, August 16, 2026; an autopsy found no signs of trauma but left cause and manner of death pending further testing.
- Local police, the Greenville County coroner and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are actively investigating and officials say toxicology and additional forensic studies could take weeks to months to complete.
- Panettiere’s brother‑in‑law, Zach Hickerson, told investigators he found her unconscious, called 911, and said Brian Hickerson administered Narcan while the two men performed CPR before EMS arrived; a police report says Brian turned over a 'bag of medication' to officers.
- Court records and prosecutors have pointed to Brian Hickerson’s recent drug problems and prior arrests for being under the influence, and he previously pleaded no contest in 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant.
- The pending toxicology results will be central to determining if drugs contributed to her death, a finding that could affect any criminal inquiry and will shape how family, friends and the public understand the final account.