Hayden Panettiere Autopsy Finds No Signs of Trauma; Cause of Death Still Under Investigation

The Autopsy Report

Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis released a preliminary autopsy report Monday on the death of actress Hayden Panettiere. The report found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death. The cause and manner of death remain pending toxicology testing and additional studies. The investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a private residence in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. She was 36. A friend placed the 911 call at approximately 1:51 p.m. First responders arrived and found her in cardiac arrest. Paramedics attempted to revive her using advanced cardiac life support measures. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

What the 911 Call Revealed

Dispatch audio obtained by multiple outlets included references to a possible overdose and cardiac arrest. Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid emergency, was reportedly found at the scene. Authorities have not confirmed an overdose occurred or identified what triggered the medical emergency. Greenville police said the preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Her History With Addiction

Panettiere spoke openly about her struggles throughout her life. She dealt with alcohol and opioid addiction for years. She entered rehab in early 2020 and later described that period as a turning point. In October 2024, she checked into rehab again following a family intervention. Just three months before her death, she published a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, which addressed her childhood fame, addiction, postpartum depression, and the grief of losing her younger brother.

The Loss That Changed Her

Her brother Jansen Panettiere, also an actor, died suddenly in his New York apartment in February 2023 at age 28. He was found unresponsive by a friend. His cause of death was later confirmed as an enlarged heart combined with aortic valve complications. Hayden described his death as the most devastating loss of her life. She said she felt physically and mentally unrecognizable in the months that followed.

Her Final Work

Panettiere’s last on-screen project was the psychological thriller Sleepwalker, released in January 2026.Her daughter Kaya, now 11, was born from her relationship with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Her family described her in a statement as a force of nature whose light touched everyone around her.

Source: TMZ, People, Yahoo News, Complex, Deadline, CNN