Hayden Panettiere Reportedly Exchanged Drug-Related Texts With Alleged Dealer Before Her Passing

New details have emerged about the investigation into Hayden Panettiere‘s passing.

The Nashville and Heroes actress passed away at the age of 36 on August 16, and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her passing.

Now, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is reportedly focusing on a series of messages between Hayden and an alleged longtime drug dealer.

According to TMZ, sources familiar with the investigation claim the actress exchanged numerous messages with the alleged dealer over several years, including during the week before her passing.

What Did Hayden Panettiere’s Reported Messages Say?

“There are a slew of messages about drugs,” one source told the outlet.

The communications reportedly included discussions about purchasing pills on the black market and are now said to be a major focus of the federal investigation.

Why Is the DEA Investigating?

Authorities are reportedly working to determine where the pills Hayden reportedly obtained came from and whether drugs played a role in her passing.

The new report comes one day after it was revealed that investigators are looking into the possibility that Hayden took an oxycodone pill that was laced with fentanyl. That theory has not been confirmed as her official cause of death.

As we previously reported, emergency responders were called to a South Carolina residence on August 16 after Hayden was found unresponsive.

What Is Hayden Panettiere’s Official Cause of Death?

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office later confirmed that an autopsy had been completed and said there were no signs of trauma. Her official cause and manner of death remain pending while officials await toxicology results.

Hayden had spoken openly before her passing about her past struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction and her experiences seeking treatment.

There is also an update about Brian Hickerson, who was just detained after an alleged bar brawl, and shouted something related to Hayden‘s passing while in handcuffs.

Posted To:Hayden Panettiere