Overview
- Brian and Zach Hickerson discovered Panettiere unresponsive at a Greenville rental and, according to Zach, called 911 while Brian administered Narcan and the brothers performed CPR until EMS arrived on Aug. 16.
- The Greenville County coroner said the autopsy found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death but that the official cause and manner remain pending further testing.
- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has joined local investigators, a development reported by multiple outlets as authorities probe whether controlled substances played a role.
- Court records show Brian Hickerson’s Aug. 13 request to expunge prior domestic violence convictions was denied after prosecutors alleged ongoing drug use, and media obtained videos showing Hickerson slurring words; a police report says a bag of medication was turned over to investigators.
- Toxicology and additional forensic studies, which can take weeks to months to complete, will be central to next steps for the investigation and to answers sought by Panettiere’s family and the public given her recent memoir and past struggles with postpartum depression and addiction.