Posted on 09/14/2026 4:10:37 AM PDT by DFG
Hayden Panettiere died after taking just one pill that is believed to have been oxycodone laced with fentanyl, it was reported Monday as cops are said to be “zeroing in” on her alleged dealer.
The actress appears to have met with her “long-term drug dealer” in Los Angeles before flying to South Carolina, where she died of a suspected overdose on Aug. 16, just before her 37th birthday, multiple law enforcement sources connected to the case told TMZ.
The mom appears to have taken one pill the day she died, but it was fatal because it was laced with fentanyl, the sources said of the opioid 50 times stronger than heroin.
Panettiere died from a suspected overdose but the authorities have not released her exact cause of death. They warned toxicology results could take up to 12 weeks.
The development comes amid reports that the authorities were “zeroing in on a potential drug dealer” in the case.
Drug Enforcement Administration officials in Los Angeles and South Carolina are investigating, according to TMZ.
Panettiere’s abusive on-off ex, Brian Hickerson — who was with her on the flight and the South Carolina apartment where she died — has already met with DEA officials, according to reports.
It’s not known what Hickerson revealed to law enforcement officials but he previously told police Panettiere had a “bag of medication” with her.
The drugs Panettiere was reportedly taking were redacted in the Greenville City Police, although there were nine different types.
Panettiere, who was best known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” had been open about her battles with addiction in her memoir, “This is Me: A Reckoning,” which was published just three months before her death.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I agree with everything you said about the drug addicted. I want young people who have not started using drugs to see Len Bias, a great athlete, wheeled out of his house under a sheet on a gurney before they even try drugs.
new title of book - This WAS me.
new title of book - This WAS me.
I never heard of that so looked it up.
Sort of like the park and beach signs of no loud music, no diving, no fires, no camping, no drinking alcohol and many more followed by “Enjoy Your Time In the Park.” How?
Pasco County enacted an ordinance banning soliciting from the right-of-way along major county roads in unincorporated areas. This includes:
State and county roads (e.g., U.S. 19, State Road 54)
Local roads within about 100 yards of intersections with major highways.
Exceptions
Sundays: The ban does not apply during daylight hours on Sundays, allowing some roadside selling (e.g., newspapers) and limited charity or firefighter boot drives.
Anyone soliciting must be at least 18, have a valid state-issued photo ID, wear a reflective vest, and act non-aggressively without touching vehicles
Other common panhandling restrictions in Florida
While Pasco’s law is specific to roadside solicitation, many Florida cities and counties also regulate panhandling in other ways, such as:
Near ATMs, bank entrances, bus stops, hospitals, schools, or building entrances.
In road medians, highway travel lanes, or areas where blocking traffic is a risk.
In aggressive or persistent solicitation after a refusal
bridgelegal.org
RE: cop show...
Happened also to the female partner of Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods for being in contact of items where particles of fentanyl fell onto trays and evidence being picked up. She almost died.
With all the foofahrah about how long it takes to euthanize a killer convicted to the death penalty, DP states really should start using fentanyl—except it is so dangerous to handle, even for those administering the drug. Police have died just from handling people passed out or dead of it if any got on the clothing of the user.
Because she lost custody of her only child years ago due to her drug abuse. Girl lives with her father in Russia or thereabouts.
Unintentionally, most likely. Still it's a shame. I was laid up for awhile and watched her for a couple of weeks on a soap opera when she was around 4 years old. She had star quality then, from the get-go. Very sad to have wasted her own life with druuuuugs.
Kind of, but not entirely. She was a rich client. I tend to think her dealer was not some guy in a do-rag slinking around the alley. In Hollywood, dealers are probably very close to businessmen, especially those who... basically help managers and agents keep the talent happy, if you know what I mean.
Was that in real life? The show i spoke about was about liek the show cops- where suppsoedly they were real events- (Though i think a lot is staged)
RE: Was that in real life?
Blue Bloods is fiction. But many local police stories in the news involve dangers to all first responders who got exposed to the fentanyl during contact with perps.
Photo....
Who hasn’t done that at some point recently. (kidding).
You have taught me something by your post. Here is a link about fact checking misinformation about accidental fentanyl exposure and law enforcement contact:
Panettiere? Some kind of holiday sweet bread?
ah ok- Yeah it’s nasty stuff for sure. responders take their hands in their lives to save others-
That’s a great professional link
She wrote in her book that at 15 she was given ‘happy pills’ at an award show to make her peppy. She soon became a drug addict and alcoholic.
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