Preliminary autopsy results in the death of actress Hayden Panettiere found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, offering the first official medical update after the 36-year-old star was found unresponsive inside a South Carolina apartment.
Panettiere was pronounced dead Sunday after police and paramedics responded to Greenville’s Judson Mill Lofts following a report of an unresponsive woman and a suspected overdose.
A 911 call came in at 1:51 p.m. A female dispatcher described Panettiere as suffering a “cardiac arrest.” Moments later, a male dispatcher reported a suspected overdose at the residence.
Emergency workers performed chest compressions and other lifesaving measures, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., roughly 40 minutes after the initial call.
“First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest,” the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. “EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”
Detectives said officers responded after an “acquaintance” reported that Panettiere was “unresponsive.”
A City of Greenville Police Department spokesman provided additional details about the response.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina said emergency responders found Hayden Panettiere in cardiac arrest and “initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
The coroner’s office said an autopsy was… pic.twitter.com/xAYNUvYw0i
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“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department have both launched investigations into Panettiere’s death.
Authorities said the “preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
The preliminary autopsy also found no evidence that physical trauma played a role in her death.
“At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the coroner’s statement continued. “The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.“
That means officials have not yet determined Panettiere’s final cause or manner of death.
“This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time.”
Panettiere would have turned 37 on Friday.
The actress and her on-and-off boyfriend, real estate agent Brian Hickerson, reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina one day before her death. Hickerson is from the state.
Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, following a life-threatening birth. She later gave full custody to the child’s father, her former fiancé and Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
A performer since childhood, Panettiere began her career in soap operas before moving into major film and television roles.
She voiced Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film “A Bug’s Life” and appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama “Remember the Titans.”
Her breakout role came as cheerleader Claire Bennet in NBC’s superhero drama “Heroes.”
She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes across six seasons of “Nashville,” a performance that earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.
Panettiere also recorded music for the series and landed 11 entries on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
