Greenville, S.C. – On August 16, authorities responded to a 911 call placed by Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach after they found actress Hayden Panettiere unresponsive in her apartment. The police report obtained by Fox Carolina confirms that Hickerson, who had an on‑and‑off relationship with Panettiere for several years, was present at the scene.
Paramedics attempted to revive the 36‑year‑old actress, but she was pronounced dead. The report notes that Zach Hickerson appeared “very emotional” during the emergency response, while Brian Hickerson did not show emotion until the star was officially declared deceased.
Bag of medication handed to officers
Officers were also given a bag of medication that Panettiere had reportedly been taking, which was handed over by Hickerson. The contents of the bag have not been disclosed.
Background on the relationship
Panettiere and Hickerson first met through mutual friends in 2018, shortly after her split from former husband Wladimir Klitschko. Hickerson, a South Carolina native who worked in real estate before pursuing acting, appeared in the 2017 thriller “M.F.A.” The couple briefly broke up in 2022, rekindled their romance in 2023, and their exact relationship status at the time of her death remains unclear.
The pair’s history includes multiple legal disputes. Hickerson faced domestic‑violence charges in 2019 and was arrested again in 2020 on eight felony counts, including felony corporal injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and a misdemeanor battery charge. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony charges related to the domestic‑violence case and received a sentence, with the remaining charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Panettiere’s public statements
Following Hickerson’s 2020 arrest, Panettiere publicly addressed the allegations, stating she hoped sharing her story would help others in abusive relationships. She expressed gratitude for her support system and vowed to ensure the man who harmed her would never hurt anyone again.
Recent court activity
Three days before her death, Hickerson appeared in Los Angeles court seeking to have his felony charges reduced. The prosecution objected, and the court denied the motion on August 13. He had previously attempted a similar reduction on July 18, 2025.
The investigation into Panettiere’s death is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details regarding the cause of death or the medication found at the scene.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
