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. A Greenville police officer arrived at the scene on Sunday and found the brothers there, with paramedics attempting CPR on an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. without any apparent physical cause for her unresponsiveness.
The exact reason for her death remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing. The autopsy did not reveal any signs of trauma, and authorities have not identified any evidence of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of domestic abuse against her.
Brian Hickerson faced charges in 2020 related to felony abuse and eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of harming a spouse or partner. Following a brief jail term, he received four years of probation, mandatory anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, his request to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors was denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, though heavily redacted, indicated that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The officer noted the emotional reactions of the Hickerson brothers during the emergency response. Specific details of the conversation with Brian Hickerson were redacted from the report, along with a list of medications Panettiere had been taking.
Earlier, Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed sorrow over her sudden death and emphasized her significance in their lives, particularly as the mother of their daughter, Kaya. The late actress and Klitschko welcomed Kaya in 2014, with Klitschko gaining full custody after their separation due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 soon, had been candid about her personal challenges in her recent memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning”. In the memoir, she disclosed her battles with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Despite misconceptions about relinquishing custody of her daughter, Panettiere clarified her commitment to her child in a podcast interview earlier this year.
Tributes for Panettiere continue to pour in from colleagues and fans, highlighting her talent and spirit. Co-stars like Connie Britton and Masi Oka expressed their grief over her passing, emphasizing her positive impact on those around her. Creator Tim Kring of “Heroes” praised Panettiere’s exceptional talent and the privilege of working with her on the show, recognizing her as an extraordinary actress. Before her notable roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere began her acting career as a child artist, featuring in films such as “Remember the Titans” in 2000.