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Hayden Panettiere‘s autopsy has been completed after her sudden death at age 36.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” read a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office on Monday, August 17. “First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed they “initiated a parallel investigation” with the Greenville City Police Department.
“The decedent has been identified as Hayden Leslie Panettiere, 36, of California. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying,” the press release continued.
Panettiere’s autopsy was completed on Monday. “At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the coroner’s office added.
Cause and manner of death “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies,” with the statement concluding, “This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time.”
News broke of Panettiere’s death on Sunday, August 16.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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,” read a statement from her father, Skip, via the actress’ rep. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
In dispatch audio obtained by People, officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death.
Throughout her career, Panettiere was candid about her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction to alcohol and opioids. She recently reflected on the challenges she faced in her life in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
“Going through challenges is daunting enough in the spotlight where everyone feels entitled to the details of your life, but those challenges I’ve faced have made me stronger,” Panettiere told Us in May about her book. “Every moment of our life and every person we meet along the way is a lesson.”
Panettiere entered treatment for a third time in 2020, spending eight months in rehab. “I was truly scared,” she recalled. “I had pushed my body to a point where my eyes turned yellow, I was struggling with jaundice, and [not having the] courage to exit my house. I went to the doctor and had a blood test and he, in no uncertain terms, told me that if you do not put a stop to this right now, then your body’s not going to be able to recover. I started doing research about liver transplants and read [that] even if you get [one], that could only buy you five years of life. And so I was like, ‘This is very, very serious, and this has gotten completely out of hand, and I can’t seem to find the strength to do it myself.’”
The actress remembered thinking, “I desperately need help, and I need to admit that I’m out of control and that I have a major problem.”
“It was like I was making up for lost time taking care of myself for those eight months, all the years of not putting myself first, not prioritizing my health and my happiness and my psyche,” she said. “Something else that I loved the most about treatment that I didn’t realize I was missing so much of until I was forced to work on it was my spirituality. When I found myself really connected with my spirituality and having faith, it was healing in a way that I never thought it could be.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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