Greenville Police Rule Actress Hayden Panettiere's Death Accidental, Close Investigation

Greenville, South Carolina, police announced Wednesday that the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, 36, has been ruled accidental, closing the department's investigation. The Greenville Police Department said the ruling was based on the Medical Examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation. Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville on Aug. 16 and was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. after responders attempted to revive her. The Greenville County Coroner's Office said last month that she died of an accidental drug overdose, with no signs of trauma. Her toxicology report listed the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were at the scene, and Zach reportedly made the 911 call reporting a woman in cardiac arrest. A recording indicates he attempted CPR while speaking with the operator. Police earlier said a preliminary investigation had shown no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The Drug Enforcement Administration was among the authorities that had examined the circumstances.

CBS News, the left-leaning outlet, leads with the police ruling and builds on the coroner's finding of an accidental overdose including fentanyl. It cites a police report it obtained placing the Hickerson brothers at the scene and noting they made the 911 call. It also mentions DEA involvement and the earlier no-foul-play statement, but does not list the specific substances. Fox News and the New York Post, the right-leaning outlets, use the same police statement. Fox opens with a correspondent's report on 'The Story' and keeps the text short, citing toxic effects of fentanyl and other substances. The Post's headline stresses the closed investigation and accidental overdose. It supplies the most detail: the five substances, the time of death, the 911 recording and CPR, and the fact that the police inquiry stayed open after the September coroner's ruling. It sources the statement to Page Six. The sides agree on the ruling, the date, her age and the location. They differ in sourcing and detail: a police report and DEA mention on the left, toxicology and 911 specifics on the right. NewsNation's brief item matches the others.