Police end probe after death of US actress Hayden Panettiere ruled 'accidental'

GREENVILLE — Police in South Carolina closed the investigation into actress Hayden Panettiere’s death after it was determined she died of an accidental drug overdose, the Greenville police department said on Wednesday.The Heroes and Nashville star died on August 16 from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and several other drugs in her system, at the age of 36.Citing the medical examiner’s report last month that found Panettiere died from a drug overdose, the Greenville Police Department said it had “concluded its investigation” into her death.The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reportedly joined a local police probe. It is unclear if that investigation has also concluded. “Based on the (coroner’s office’s) determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental. The Greenville Police Department has concluded its investigation,” the police department said.The Greenville County Coroner’s Office ruled Panettiere’s death an accident last month, but investigators had been looking into whether she obtained illicit and possibly counterfeit drugs from a dealer in Southern California.Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest and medics were unable to resuscitate her. She was found in the Airbnb apartment, sitting with her legs crossed and her face down, according to a coroner’s report.Two men — later identified by police as Panettiere’s boyfriend and his brother — discovered her on a sofa bed. Panettiere was purple, the coroner’s report says. One man administered two doses of Narcan and called 911 after she remained unresponsive.One of the men said he didn’t know Panettiere had used illegal drugs in recent days, but “she was very good at hiding them,” the coroner’s report said.The actress had publicly shared her struggles with early fame and her battles with mental health and addiction.This year, Panettiere addressed the challenges in a memoir and spoke publicly about losing her brother.Her career was also making a comeback, with her latest film released in January.