Police in Greenville, South Carolina, issued a statement with more details surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s tragic death at age 36.
Local authorities told NBC News in a statement that they, “accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, August 16.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the statement continued.
“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call,” the statement said.
Panettiere’s representative confirmed the Heroes actress’ death to Us on Sunday.
“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,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement.
Hayden is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
In an exclusive interview with Us in May, Hayden opened up about her difficult decision to give up custody of Kaya to Klitschko, 50, after she experienced postpartum depression and addiction.
Before her sudden death at age 36, Hayden Panettiere was a proud mom of one. The Heroes and Nashville alum welcomed daughter Kaya, now 11, in 2014 with then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, a former professional boxer. (The couple split in 2018.) Earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her heartbreaking decision to give up custody of […]
“It was a living nightmare, and I felt so out of control,” she said. “There’s nothing that I could do about it. There’s so much of me that wanted to fight, but I had to ultimately take into consideration the most important thing, which was how this was all going to affect my daughter. Sometimes that means having to do the hardest things in the world, for their sake.”
“Wlad is an incredible father, and I know he was doing what he felt was best for our daughter,” Hayden added. “Living on separate continents made our arrangement even more challenging. Despite how I felt, it was important to always put her first.”
The actress said signing over custody to Klitschko was “absolutely one of the worst days of my life and will always be.”
However, the Nashville alum said that lately she has had “an incredible relationship with both of them.”
“I’m so grateful for Wlad. We’re very close, and have had a deep friendship, along with a relationship, since I met him when I was 19,” she said of her ex.
As for Kaya, she added, “She’s otherworldly and so kind and so fierce and surrounded by good people, and it’s incredible for me to be able to watch her thrive in areas that I struggled with growing up. She’s just the best thing, all the best parts of me and Wlad.”
