Hayden Panettiere’s death has taken a troubling turn after Narcan was found inside her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina.
The actress was found unresponsive at the residence on Sunday, August 16 and later pronounced dead at the scene. TMZ first reported that a friend discovered Panettiere in the apartment and called 911 after she appeared to be in cardiac arrest.
Per the dispatch audio, the caller suspected that Panettiere had an overdose, so the latest discovery raises questions about what exactly happened inside the apartment before first responders arrived.
Narcan was reportedly found inside Panettiere’s apartment
According to TMZ’s sources, a device that is used to administer Narcan sat on a mattress near the actress.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Per the outlet, first responders used epinephrine during their efforts to resuscitate Panettiere.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Two ambulances reportedly responded to the apartment, but neither transported a patient. Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was also reportedly at the residence with his brother.
Authorities haven’t confirmed who, if anyone, received the Narcan and haven’t released her official cause of death either. However, preliminary investigations reportedly did not show any signs of foul play.
Neighbor recalls the scene after Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive
Micah Lee, who lives at Judson Mill Lofts on Easley Bridge Road, painted a picture of what unfolded outside Panettiere’s home in Greenville. He spoke to WYFF 4 and recalled “lots of commotion” in the hallway.
“It was yesterday afternoon and just a bunch of commotion in the hallway,” Lee said. “The halls are pretty hollow, so noise echoes throughout. And I had just heard about someone collapsing. And then afterwards, there was talk about cardiac arrest. I can’t confirm any of that. That’s just what I’ve heard.”
Lee, however, stressed that he couldn’t personally confirm what exactly happened inside the apartment.
Hayden Panettiere previously spoke about her addiction
Panettiere previously opened up about her struggles with opioids and alcohol in a 2022 interview with People.
“I was on top of the world and I ruined it,” she told the magazine. “I’d think I hit rock bottom, but then there’s that trap door that opens.”
Panettiere said her relationship with substances began as a teenager, when she was 15 and someone on her professional team gave her “happy pills” before a red-carpet appearance.
Panettiere revealed how alcohol and opioids eventually became something she “almost couldn’t live without.”
Following the birth of her daughter, the Nashville star also struggled with postpartum depression and said she found it difficult to connect with her child.
Panettiere later entered rehab for eight months and opened up about the process of “checking in with myself all the time.”
“But I’m just so grateful to be part of this world again and I will never take it for granted again,” she added.
