The Drug Enforcement Administration is assisting local authorities in the investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, a source familiar with the matter told The New York Times. ABC confirmed the development, noting that the Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina remains the lead investigative agency.
Greenville police, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female on Sunday, Aug. 16, according to a statement given to NBC News. Medical assistance was administered at the scene, but Panettiere was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy completed on Monday, Aug. 17, found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death, Coroner Mike Ellis said in a statement to People. The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies, Ellis said.
Panettiere had previously discussed her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction, and domestic abuse in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. The actress, known for roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, had also been public about navigating child stardom and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
