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. When a Greenville police officer arrived at the residence on Sunday afternoon, the Hickerson brothers greeted the officer and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. The officer mentioned that there were no apparent physical reasons for the woman’s unresponsiveness. Despite life-saving efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.
The cause of death has not been determined, and investigations are ongoing. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities stated there was no indication of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physical abuse towards her.
Hickerson was previously charged with felony abuse in 2020 and later pleaded no contest to injuring a spouse or partner, resulting in a short jail term. He was subsequently placed on four years of probation, attended anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, he requested to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors, which was denied by a Los Angeles judge last Thursday.
The police report, heavily redacted, indicated that Zach Hickerson informed the responding officer that the unresponsive woman was his brother’s girlfriend. Zach appeared emotional during the emergency response, while Brian showed emotions only after her official declaration of death. Details of the conversation with Brian are redacted, as well as a list of medications Panettiere was taking.
Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his grief over her sudden death. Klitschko, who shares a daughter with Panettiere, emphasized the shock and sadness their family is experiencing. Following their split in 2018, Klitschko gained full custody of their daughter due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, candidly discussed her personal challenges in her recently released memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” In the memoir, she addressed issues related to early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Panettiere also clarified misconceptions regarding her custody arrangement for her daughter, emphasizing her continued involvement in her daughter’s life.
Tributes for Panettiere continue to pour in, with co-stars and industry figures expressing their sorrow over her passing. Connie Britton, a co-star from “Nashville,” and Masi Oka from “Heroes” shared heartfelt messages mourning her loss. Tim Kring, creator of “Heroes,” praised Panettiere’s talent and spirit, highlighting her remarkable contributions to the industry before her breakout roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.”