More details have been released in the investigation surrounding "Heroes" and "Nashville" star Hayden Panettiere.
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No arrests have been made in the death of the star actress. However, one source told the outlet that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is "zeroing in on a potential drug dealer."
Texts Between Hayden & Dealer Could Be Key Piece of Evidence
Now, in the most recent update from TMZ, investigators have uncovered a "slew" of texts between Hayden and a drug dealer.
The update comes after the outlet reported on Monday (September 14) that the late actress's death was drug-related. Investigators believe that the Heroes star took an oxycodone pill that was laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is roughly 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and heroin. They believe that she took the fatal dosage before hopping on a flight to South Carolina from Los Angeles days before her death back in August.
One source told TMZ that Hayden had a connection to a "long-time drug dealer" in Los Angeles. He had been "providing her several black-market prescription drugs, including oxycodone."
Several of her neighbors in West Hollywood also spoke to the outlet. They said that three "shady" people would often come to the unit to drop off bags. They presumed they were drugs.
The police have already brought one person in for questioning. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. Hickerson has not officially been named a suspect or even a person of interest. But he was in the South Carolina rental property with Panettiere when she passed away back in August. He also provided the police with a bag of Hayden's prescription drugs. This could give investigators more insight into whether her death could have been the result of cross-contamination.
New York Post's Page Six spoke with a rep for the late actress. The rep said that the investigation into her death is "complex."
"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," the source said.
Stay tuned for more updates.
