Death of US actress Hayden Panettiere ruled accidental, ending local police probe

Meanwhile, the death of US actress Hayden Panettiere has been ruled accidental, ending a local probe in her death, police in South Carolina have remarked.

Key points

• Panettiere, who had spoken openly regarding her struggles with substance abuse, was identified unresponsive in a South Carolina residence on 16 August.
• "Based on the Medical Examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere's death has been ruled accidental, " police remarked in an official note.
• The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reportedly joined a local police probe.
• A spokesperson for Greenville Police Department could not comment on what the DEA was investigating when contacted by the BBC.
• Citing the medical examiner's report last month that discovered Panettiere died from a drug overdose, the Greenville Police Department stated it had "concluded its investigation" into her death.

Meanwhile, the Heroes and Nashville star died in August from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and a number of other drugs in her system, at the age of 36.

Notably, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reportedly joined a local police probe. It is unclear if that investigation has additionally concluded. The BBC has contacted the DEA for comment.

Authorities, including the DEA, were reportedly investigating the circumstances of Panettiere's death, according to the BBC's US media partner CBS News.

For context, a spokesperson for Greenville Police Department could not comment on what the DEA was investigating when contacted by the BBC.

Last month, the Greenville County Coroner's Office confirmed the former child star had died from an accidental drug overdose that included fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans over the past five years alone.

In practice, the coroner additionally identified methocarbamol – a prescription muscle relaxant – and quetiapine – an anti-psychotic medication applied to treat certain mental health conditions.

Notably, the coroner's office had remarked crews treated a woman in "cardiac arrest" and her autopsy demonstrated "no signs of trauma" contributing to her death.

Panettiere's ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson – who has admitted to abusing her – and his brother Zack were with her when emergency services arrived, according to a police report from the day she died.

For now, death of US actress Hayden Panettiere ruled accidental, ending local police probe remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.