Police report says Jansen Panettiere, 28, 'sounded okay' on call with his father the night before he died
NYACK, NEW YORK: New tragic details about the death of Jansen Panettiere have emerged as police reports stated that he "sounded okay" when he last spoke to his father, Alan Lee "Skip", shortly before his death. Hayden Panettiere's brother, who has acted in 'Ice Age: The Meltdown' and 'The Walking Dead', died at 28 on Sunday, February 19.
Pannettiere was found unresponsive by his friend in his apartment in Nyack. An Orangetown Police Department report obtained by Fox News stated that Alan responded to the scene after his son's death. The report said he informed investigators that "he spoke to [the] deceased via telephone the night before and he sounded okay." The cause of Panettiere’s death has not yet been released but police reportedly said "there were no obvious signs of trauma."
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Cops arrived at Panettiere's apartment shortly after 5 pm after receving reports of an "unresponsive male with CPR in progress." Upon arrival, they found Benjamin Brown, his friend, performing CPR on the 28-year-old, who was on his back on the living room floor. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 5.11 pm.
'Sitting upright in a chair unresponsive'
Police reports said Brown told officers that he went to Panettiere’s apartment after he grew concerned about his health when he failed to show up for a business meeting. He found Panettiere in his living room "sitting upright in a chair unresponsive". While the actor was not breathing and was cold to the touch, Brown gave him CPR until emergency personnel arrived. Orangetown Police Sgt. Peter Maher reportedly said, "As part of this ongoing investigation we are awaiting an official determination of the cause of death from the Rockland County Medical Examiner."
'He had been having a rough time lately'
Sources close to the Panettiere's family revealed that he was suffering from anxiety and depression before his death. "He had been having a rough time lately with his career and he has dragged in so many directions," sources told the DailyMail, adding, "Hayden is just inconsolable. He was her best friend and her only brother. He was such a nice guy but he lived on the edge."
An insider told Entertainment Tonight, "Jansen suffered from mental health issues and art was his therapy and escape. In the past, Jansen was open to family and friends about his struggles. Hayden was always there for him and constantly tried to help Jansen when she could." Panettiere is survived by his sister and their parents, Lesley Vogel and Alan.