Actress Hayden Panettiere's death resulted from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax, and multiple other substances found in her system, according to findings released by the Greenville County Coroner's Office in South Carolina.
The coroner determined that Panettiere's death was accidental, with no evidence of trauma or other contributing factors. She was discovered unresponsive at a residence in South Carolina last month at age 36.
In addition to fentanyl and Xanax, the autopsy identified methocarbamol, a prescription muscle relaxant, and quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication prescribed to manage certain mental health conditions. The combination of these substances proved fatal.
Panettiere gained prominence as a cast member on the television series Heroes and later starred in Nashville. She had previously discussed her ongoing battles with substance abuse publicly.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths across the United States over the past five years. The drug's potency and prevalence in illicit drug supplies have made it a major driver of overdose fatalities nationwide.
Her family, including her former partner boxer Wladimir Klitschko, released statements expressing their grief following her death. Panettiere had documented her personal struggles, including addiction and postpartum depression, in a memoir published earlier in 2026.
