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Drug Enforcement Agency joins probe into Hayden Panettiere’s death: Sources

Hayden Panettiere attends Los Angeles premiere of “Blonde” at TCL Chinese Theatre on Sept. 13, 2022, in Hollywood, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

A representative for the late actress Hayden Panettiere issued a brief statement Thursday after the Drug Enforcement Administration joined the investigation into her death earlier this week.

Panettiere, known for her roles in “Ice Princess,” “Heroes,” “Nashville” and more, died Sunday at age 36.

In a statement shared with ABC News on Thursday, Panettiere’s representative said, “There’s nothing to be shared at this time as the investigation is ongoing but we are hopeful that justice will be served.”

The DEA joined the investigation into Panettiere’s death on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina is the lead investigative agency, and the DEA is assisting.

News of the DEA joining the investigation came one day after Greenville police released a report detailing the scene at the private residence where Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead.

According to that report, an officer arrived at the residence on Easley Bridge Road in Greenville on Sunday, responding to an EMS assist for an unresponsive individual.

The officer said that Panettiere was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zack Hickerson, when she died.

According to the police report, it is unknown if Panettiere was using drugs or alcohol at the time of her death, although the officer added in the report that Brian Hickerson had shown them the bag of medication that Panettiere was taking.

Officials arrived on scene to assist in the investigation, and the coroner was also on scene to conduct their investigation.

Panettiere’s official cause and manner of death “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies,” the coroner’s office said in a press release on Monday.

Prior to her death, Panettiere had been candid about her struggles from child stardom through adulthood.

She released a memoir this May titled “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she shared “a rare and intimate glimpse into her life behind closed doors, opening up about postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, trauma, domestic abuse, and loss,” according to a synopsis for her book.

Across Hollywood, many have been mourning the actress’s death. Along with “Ice Princess,” “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere also starred in “Remember the Titans,” “Raising Helen,” several “Scream” films and more.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya, whom she shared with her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko.

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Woman arrested for allegedly plotting New York state Capitol attack

The New York State Capitol Building in Albany. (Demerzel21/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) -- The FBI arrested a woman who they allege was plotting to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany.The FBI alleged in a criminal complaint Thursday that Jessica Bowie, 35, pledged allegiance to ISIS in online communications and began planning the attack in July.The suspect converted to Islam about five years ago and in messages with unidentified users pledged support to ISIS, the criminal complaint said.Bowie had allegedly discussed her plans with FBI informants and spent weeks doing surveillance of the Capitol, including taking pictures from various vantage points, including an "observation hall nearby," the criminal complaint said.She allegedly bought bomb materials from a hardware store on Aug. 5 and plotted with the informants for the next two weeks, according to the complaint.The informants allegedly met with Bowie on Wednesday and provided her with an inert explosive device and an inert handgun along with instructions on how to detonate the explosive, the complaint said.The FBI soon arrested her, the complaint said.Upon being interviewed by FBI agents she allegedly said, "There’s no helping me, you guys know enough, there’s no helping me, I’m ... going to prison for the rest of my life," according to the complaint."Material support is up to 20 years in prison, I already Googled it before, I know I’m going to jail," she allegedly said.Attorney information for the suspect was not immediately available.This is a developing story.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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