Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. Responding to a call at the residence, a Greenville police officer found the Hickerson brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman.
Despite efforts to revive her, the actress was declared deceased at 2:31 p.m. with no apparent physical cause for her unresponsiveness. The investigation into her death is ongoing, with no determined cause yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities found no indication of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physical abuse toward her.
Brian Hickerson previously faced charges of felony abuse in 2020 and later pleaded no contest to injuring a spouse or partner, resulting in a brief jail term. He subsequently received probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Despite his completion of the terms, his request to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors was recently denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, extensively redacted, described Zach Hickerson’s emotional state during the incident, noting that Brian became visibly distraught only after the actress was pronounced dead. Details of the conversation with Brian and the list of medications Panettiere was taking were redacted from the report.
Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed grief over her sudden demise, emphasizing her significance in his life as the mother of their daughter. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2014, and following their split in 2018, Klitschko obtained full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 soon, had candidly shared her personal challenges, including early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression, in her memoir released in May. She had also addressed misconceptions about her custody arrangement for her daughter in recent interviews.
Tributes continue to flood in for the late actress, with colleagues and friends remembering her for her talent and spirit. Co-stars from “Nashville” and “Heroes” expressed deep sorrow over her passing, highlighting her impact on their lives and the entertainment industry. Panettiere, known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” began her acting career as a child artist in films such as “Remember the Titans.”
The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a talented and beloved actor, Hayden Panettiere, whose legacy will be remembered for her remarkable contributions to television and film.