A coroner has determined that the death of US actress Hayden Panettiere in August was accidental, citing the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and several other drugs, authorities said. The ruling prompted local police to close their probe into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Panettiere, known for her roles in the television dramas Heroes and Nashville, died in August. The coroner's finding attributes her death to the combined toxic effects of multiple substances but did not indicate criminal intent, according to the official determination.
Following the coroner's ruling, the local police department concluded its investigation, stating there was no evidence of foul play that would warrant further criminal inquiry. The closure brings an official end to the case at the local law-enforcement level.
Panettiere's passing prompted widespread media attention given her profile as an actress on two high-profile television series. The coroner's report and the police decision to cease investigatory activity finalize the official response to her death, while any remaining public discussion is likely to focus on the medical findings and the broader issues of substance-related fatalities.