The investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere has taken a new turn after the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined authorities examining the circumstances surrounding her passing.
Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, Ice Princess and the Scream franchise, died on Sunday at the age of 36 after she was found unresponsive at a private residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
Her representative has now broken silence on the ongoing investigation, saying there is hope that the truth behind the actress’s death will eventually emerge.
“There’s nothing to be shared at this time as the investigation is ongoing but we are hopeful that justice will be served,” the representative said.
What authorities have revealed about Hayden Panettiere’s final moments
The DEA joined the investigation on Wednesday, assisting the Greenville City Police Department, which remains the lead agency handling the case.
The development came shortly after police released details from the scene where Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest.
According to the police report, officers arrived at a residence on Easley Bridge Road in Greenville following a call about an unresponsive person.
Panettiere was reportedly with her former partner Brian Hickerson and his brother Zack Hickerson when authorities arrived.
Police said it remains unclear whether the actress had consumed drugs or alcohol before her death. The report noted that Hickerson showed officers a bag containing medication Panettiere had been taking.
The coroner’s office has said the official cause and manner of death remain pending, with further medical examinations still underway.
Before her death, Panettiere had spoken publicly about her struggles with addiction, trauma, postpartum depression and recovery.
Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released earlier this year, detailed some of the personal challenges she faced away from the spotlight.
The actress leaves behind her daughter Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
