Hayden Panettiere autopsy shows actress had ‘no signs of trauma’ at time of death

Hayden Panettiere’s autopsy has been completed and her cause of death is pending further investigation.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed to Page Six in a statement that “on August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest.”

They explained that “first responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest.”

And though “EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures […] resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”

The Coroner’s Office also confirmed that “the decedent has been identified as Hayden [Lesley] Panettiere, 36, of California” and she was “found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying.”

“An autopsy was completed today. At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would
have contributed to the death,” the statement further read, noting that the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation and additional studies will be completed.

“This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time,” the statement concluded.

The “Nashville” actress’ death was announced on Sunday, with her father, Alan Lee “Skip” Panettiere, confirming the “tragic passing” in a statement to Page Six.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Panettiere was found unresponsive in a South Carolina Airbnb Sunday.

In 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, authorities confirmed that Panettiere suffered an apparent “overdose.”

The outlet reported on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and the “Heroes” actress flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, on Saturday. It is unclear if he placed the 911 call.

The “Scream 4” actress was first linked to Hickerson in 2018, and they have had a turbulent relationship ever since.

He was arrested for multiple domestic violence incidents and ultimately sentenced to 45 days in county jail after pleading no contest, which means refusing to deny or admit guilt, to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, in 2021.

He got four years of probation, ordered to attend 52 domestic violence classes and received a five-year restraining order to stay away from the actress.

 The “This Is Me: A Reckoning” author had also been open about her struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction following suffering from postpartum depression.

She told People in 2022 that she was offered “happy pills” before attending red carpets when she was 15 years old.

“They were to make me peppy during interviews,” she told the outlet. “I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction.”

The actress continued heavily drinking and occasionally taking opioids.

She shared daughter Kaya, 11, with then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko — who moved with their daughter to his native Ukraine.

Hayden’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at 28 of an undiagnosed heart condition.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.