Hayden Panettiere reportedly consumed an oxycodone pill mixed with fentanyl on the day she died, according to TMZ sources on Monday. However, they noted that the toxicology reports hadn’t yet been released.
The 36-year-old actress passed away on August 16th in Greenville, South Carolina. TMZ reported, based on sources well-informed about the case, that Panettiere had a dealer of black market prescription drugs who worked with her in Los Angeles, and he supplied oxycodone to her.
According to the report, she consumed a variety of drugs purchased from the drug dealer on the flight from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before her death, and she took an oxycodone pill the following morning.
Los Angeles DEA is trying to find out the connection between Panettiere and the dealer and trace the pill back to him.
The DEA in Los Angeles and South Carolina, along with state and local authorities, is investigating, according to TMZ.
TMZ noted that everything depended on the pending toxicology results, and they hypothesized that the cause of her death was a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill. CBS News, citing TMZ, reported that Panettiere died from a suspected overdose.
KTLA also reported on the story, noting that they were trying to verify the findings independently and mentioned that the toxicology results are still pending. TMZ previously reported that when first responders came to the condo where Panettiere and her boyfriend Brian Hickerson were staying, Brian handed over a bag of her prescription medications.
Brian administered Narcan to Panettiere before paramedics arrived, but it didn’t help. TMZ compared this situation to the rapper Mac Miller, whose drug supplier was found guilty of supplying him with some of the drugs that had fentanyl in them, which caused his death.
Meanwhile, Greenville police held Brian Hickerson on Saturday night due to a fight in a restaurant, weeks after Panettiere’s death.
Police responded to the report of an assault at the Wild Wing Cafe around 9:10 p.m. on September 12th, Greenville Police Department said. They said Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were among those involved, and police detained multiple patrons to help with the investigation.
The highly intoxicated Zach Hickerson started shouting profanities and was detained on a disorderly conduct charge and jailed in the Greenville County Detention Center. However, Brian Hickerson was released on the spot and wasn’t charged.
According to TMZ, Brian Hickerson was cuffed at some point and yelled at Greenville police for leaking information about his girlfriend’s death. The accusation hasn’t been verified yet.
It should be noted that Zach Hickerson was present when Panettiere was found unresponsive in August.
No charges have been filed yet in relation to her death.
