The preliminary police reports concerning Hayden Panettiere‘s death do not sit right with Nancy Grace.
The 36-year-old actress was found dead at a Greenville residence in South Carolina. All attempts by the paramedics to resuscitate her proved futile, and she was declared dead on Sunday afternoon.
Hayden Panettiere’s death has raised questions in the hearts of many, like Nancy Grace, especially after it was disclosed that her supposed ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present at the scene.
Grace is not holding back her thoughts on the ongoing investigation into Panettiere’s death. The legal commentator raised questions while slamming the initial police reports, ruling out suspicious activities as a factor.
During the August 19 episode of her “Crime Stories” show, she discussed the swirling issue about the actress’s sudden death. “When I find a dead body, I don’t just assume there’s no foul play,” she said on the show, adding, “That’s completely irresponsible.”
Grace turned the tables on her show’s investigative reporter, Dave Mack, asking him to share some facts of the case and probably provide some answers to her questions.
“Who? What? Where? When? Why?” the journalist asked on the show. “Where was she found? When was she found? Give me the circumstances. What was found at the scene? Was anybody there? Help me out, Dave.”
A Medical Examiner Weighed In On The Investigations
5Grace stated that hearing “no signs of foul play” does not put her mind at ease, citing that separate investigators had similar rulings in cases pertaining to the deaths of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, and Matthew Perry. These industry icons’ deaths turned out to be the result of some level of foul play.
The legal commentator interviewed toxicologist and medical examiner Dr. Thomas Coyne on Wednesday to shed light on how “foul play” is ruled out in similar cases. It should be noted that Coyne has no connection with Panettiere’s case.
The medical examiner explained that the ruling comes when there is “no obvious trauma, no obvious murder that may have occurred.” He further explained that it’s quite different for overdose cases because “the answer isn’t present at the autopsy.”
As shared by US Weekly, Coyne noted that it typically takes weeks to obtain the toxicology results; hence, they do their best to provide whatever answers they can while remaining respectful to the deceased’s family.
The DEA Is Involved In The ‘Nashville’ Star’s Death Investigation
5A source told PEOPLE that the Drug Enforcement Administration is now involved in the Hollywood star’s death investigation. As it stands, an official cause of death has yet to be released.
However, a police spokesperson confirmed that their preliminary investigation had “not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
Obtained dispatch audio of the emergency call, which included officials discussing a possible overdose and cardiac arrest. Paramedics who arrived at the scene reportedly tried to revive Panettiere using advanced medical techniques to no avail.
The TV star’s on-and-off boyfriend, with whom she had an abusive relationship, Hickerson, and his brother Zach were identified as being at the Greenville residence. Hickerson allegedly showed the officers a “bag of medication” the actress had been taking.
An insider also noted that Narcan was found at the scene. Narcan is a treatment used to reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency rapidly.
The ‘Heroes’ Actress Had A Troubling History With Brian Hickerson
5Panettiere’s story of legal war over domestic violence cases with Hickerson was no secret, as she had spoken openly about it a few times before her death. Hickerson also admitted that he had abused the actress during their relationship.
The pair were supposedly broken up; however, his presence at the scene of her death says otherwise. According to the TV star’s former neighbor, Mia Terrazzas, she witnessed several accounts of troubling incidents. She revealed that she had seen Panettiere “terrified” leaving the house on a gurney, looking like she had suffered some “battering” trauma.
The Blast reports that Terrazzas alleged she had personally called 911 approximately “half a dozen times” to report disturbances from the actress’s apartment. She also recalled an incident where Hickerson “ripped apart her bathroom, where he just took a sledgehammer at 5 in the morning.”
Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend Stands With Police ‘No Foul Play’ Findings
5Hickerson has broken his silence after Panettiere’s death via his legal representative, Sloan Ellis. The attorney from the Ellis Hinton law firm made a statement to TMZ reiterating that the actress’s death is still under investigation.
“It is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,” Ellis said in his statement. He further noted that they would maintain their silence out of respect for Panettiere’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation.
The media outlet also reports that Hickerson was allegedly asleep in the other room when the actress died. It was his brother, Zach, who came in to find Panettiere unresponsive in an armchair.
Is Nancy Grace grasping at straws with her questions about Hayden Panettiere’s death?
