Hayden Panettiere’s text conversations with her alleged drug dealer have become a focus of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s investigation into her death, as stated [1] by Page Six.
The messages reportedly span years and include discussions involving drugs and the purchase of black market pills.
A source involved in the investigation described the volume of communications to TMZ. “There are a slew of messages about drugs,” the source told the outlet.
According to the federal law enforcement agency source, Panettiere and the dealer discussed purchases in explicit terms.
The source said the “Heroes” actress and her drug dealer “were very specific about purchasing black market pills.”
The DEA believes Panettiere died on Aug. 16 after taking one oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl.
The agency’s investigation is now examining the conversations she allegedly had with the dealer before her death.
TMZ also reported that Panettiere allegedly consumed several drugs that she bought from the dealer while traveling from Los Angeles to South Carolina. That flight took place the day before she died.
The DEA has not completed its work on the case and is awaiting Panettiere’s toxicology results before taking further action.
Those results remain a pending part of the investigation described in the report.
Panettiere’s representative stressed that the inquiry is continuing and said law enforcement has not revealed the investigation’s target.
The representative also characterized the case as complex while expressing hope that more information will emerge.
“The investigation is still ongoing. Law enforcement has not disclosed who they are targeting, but I am told the case is complex.
We hope to have more answers soon,” Panettiere’s representative told Page Six in a statement.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. Zach Hickerson, the brother of her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, discovered the actress, who was 36.
A police report obtained by Page Six offered another detail about the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to that, the “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star was taking a “bag of medication” at the time.
Zach also described the frantic response after Panettiere was found unresponsive.
He claimed that Brian gave Panettiere CPR and administered Narcan in an attempt to help his girlfriend.
The mentioned text conversations are now drawing scrutiny because of their alleged specificity about drugs and black market pills.
At the same time, the DEA is still waiting for the toxicology findings before determining what further action may follow.
Brian separately had an encounter with police in Greenville over the weekend. Officers handcuffed him after an alleged altercation at a bar, where he shouted about the late actress’ death.
Police later released Brian from the scene and did not charge him.
The report did not state that the bar incident changed the status or direction of the DEA investigation into Panettiere’s death.
The investigation therefore remains active, with the alleged conversations and pending toxicology results.
Hayden Panettiere Died from Fentanyl-Laced Oxy
The 36-year-old actress was discovered unresponsive on August 16 at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina. Her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, administered Narcan in an effort to revive her prior to the arrival of emergency medical… pic.twitter.com/iscHy8Jn07 [3]— American Crime Stories (@AmericanCrime01) September 14, 2026 [4]
Panettiere’s representative has said law enforcement has not disclosed who is being targeted as authorities continue examining the case.