Police Rule Hayden Panettiere's Death Accidental and Close South Carolina Investigation
Photo: Fox NewsPolice in Greenville, South Carolina, said Wednesday that actor Hayden Panettiere's death has been ruled accidental and that their investigation is closed. Panettiere, 36, who starred in "Heroes" and "Nashville," was found unresponsive on Aug. 16 at an apartment in Greenville and was pronounced dead there. The Greenville Police Department said its ruling was based on the medical examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation, and that no signs of foul play had been found. Last month the Greenville County Coroner's Office ruled that she died of the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine, and said an autopsy showed no trauma that would have contributed. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was at the residence and gave responders a bag of medication she was believed to be taking. Panettiere had spoken publicly about addiction and had been in rehab weeks earlier, according to the coroner's report. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, has called her a "fighter."
Left-leaning outlets Rolling Stone and NBC News lead with the ruling and the closed case, then build on the coroner's findings. NBC lists all five drugs, notes the rehab stay, quotes Vogel and cites the police report on Hickerson's bag of medication. Rolling Stone is briefer, citing NBC and mentioning fentanyl and other drugs. Right-leaning outlets split. The Daily Caller focuses on scene details: the Judson Mill Lofts address, Hickerson's brother Zach, the 2:32 pm time of death and a memoir alleging abuse in the relationship. It leaves out Vogel's comments. Fox News is the sparsest, giving the police statement, date and place, plus a broadcast segment. Both sides agree on the ruling, the date and the absence of foul play. The BBC adds the unclear status of a reported DEA role.
How the sides differ Left sources add the coroner's findings and her mother's words; right sources stress the boyfriend, the apartment details and the memoir; alternative sources note the unclear DEA role.
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Rolling Stone and NBC News lead with the police ruling, then give the coroner's findings, her rehab history and, in NBC's case, the drug list, the police report on Hickerson and her mother's comments.
BBC News reports the ruling and cause of death, and adds that the DEA reportedly joined the probe, that it is unclear whether that inquiry has ended and that the DEA was contacted.
The Daily Caller details the apartment, the Hickerson brothers, the time of death and the memoir's abuse allegations; Fox News gives a short police-statement report with a broadcast segment.