GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of actor Hayden Panettiere, alongside his brother Zach Hickerson, was present at the South Carolina apartment where Panettiere died over the weekend. According to a police report released on Tuesday, responding officers encountered the brothers at the residence and found paramedics performing CPR on an unresponsive woman.
The officer noted that the patient, later identified as Panettiere, did not show any visible physical reasons for her unresponsiveness. Emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures but ultimately declared her dead at 2:31 p.m. The cause of her death has yet to be determined, and an autopsy revealed no signs of trauma. Authorities indicated there were no indications of foul play at the scene.
Hayden Panettiere, who gained fame as a child star through popular TV shows like "Heroes" and "Nashville," was set to celebrate her 37th birthday the following Friday. Throughout her career, Panettiere had struggled with alcohol addiction and depression, which she openly discussed in her memoir, "This Is Me," published in May.
The relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson was tumultuous, marked by allegations of physical abuse. In 2020, Hickerson faced multiple felony charges related to the alleged abuse, ultimately pleading no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner. He served a short jail term and was sentenced to four years of probation, along with mandated anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, he sought to downgrade his felony convictions to misdemeanors, a request that was denied by a Los Angeles judge.
In her memoir, Panettiere expressed her hopes for Hickerson's rehabilitation during his incarceration. She conveyed a desire for him to experience enough time in jail to prompt reflection but not so much as to cause irrevocable harm. She also discussed her journey of attempting to forgive Hickerson after meeting him at a West Hollywood restaurant in 2018.
The police report detailing the incident was heavily redacted. Zach Hickerson reportedly informed the responding officer that the unresponsive woman was his brother's girlfriend. The officer noted that Zach appeared very emotional during the cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts, while Brian exhibited no emotion until after Panettiere was confirmed deceased. Following the declaration of her death, the officer escorted the brothers from the apartment, but further details from their subsequent discussion are redacted.
Hayden Panettiere had long been candid about her battles with addiction. In her book, she disclosed the lasting impact of her early fame, including struggles with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with ex-partner Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya began living full-time with Klitschko in Ukraine when she was just two years old as Panettiere was grappling with her mental health issues. In a May interview, Panettiere clarified misconceptions surrounding her decision for Kaya to live with Klitschko, emphasizing that it was not a simple act of giving up her child.
Following Panettiere's tragic passing, Klitschko released a statement vowing to ensure their daughter would always remember her mother. He acknowledged Panettiere’s remarkable talent and career while recognizing the darker aspects of the demanding entertainment industry. Klitschko remarked, "Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
Panettiere’s early career began under the guidance of her mother, Lesley Vogel, a former soap opera star. She acted in commercials and soap operas, including her role as Lizzie Spaulding on "Guiding Light." In her memoir, she reflected on how her characters' traumatic experiences influenced her real-life struggles. Following her breakthrough role as a cheerleader with supernatural powers in "Heroes," which premiered in 2006, Panettiere became a household name, winning multiple Teen Choice Awards and receiving a Grammy nomination for her work in children's programming.
Later, she starred in "Nashville," portraying a rising country music artist alongside Connie Britton. The show, which aired for four seasons on ABC before being revived on CMT, allowed Panettiere to showcase her singing talent, achieving success on country music charts and earning her two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.
