The short version
- A police report indicates Brian Hickerson and his brother were present when emergency responders arrived at the Greenville apartment.
- Paramedics performed CPR on Panettiere before declaring her dead, with an autopsy revealing no signs of trauma or obvious physical causes for unresponsiveness.
- Hickerson’s recent request to reduce his prior felony abuse convictions was denied by a Los Angeles judge just days before the incident.
A police report released Tuesday provides new details regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of actress Hayden Panettiere in Greenville, South Carolina. The document confirms that Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the residence when emergency services arrived on Sunday afternoon. The release of this information comes as investigators continue to examine the case, with no official cause of death determined at this time.
According to the report, a responding officer was met by the two men upon arrival. The officer observed paramedics performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an unresponsive woman inside the apartment. The responding officer noted in the document that the patient did not appear to have any obvious physical reasons for being unresponsive. After attempting lifesaving measures, emergency workers declared Panettiere dead at 2:31 p.m.
The investigation remains open, though police have stated they saw no signs of foul play during their initial assessment. An autopsy was conducted and found no evidence of trauma. The report is heavily redacted in several areas, including a list of medications Panettiere had been taking and the specific details of a conversation the officer held with Brian Hickerson after the woman was pronounced dead. These omissions leave significant gaps in the public understanding of the medical context surrounding her final moments.
The presence of Hickerson at the scene has drawn attention given the history between the two individuals. Panettiere and Hickerson had a tumultuous relationship that included allegations of physical abuse by him. In 2020, Hickerson was charged with multiple counts of felony abuse. He eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner and served a short jail sentence as part of his punishment.
Following his incarceration, Hickerson was sentenced to four years of probation, which included requirements for anger management counseling and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. He completed these terms recently. However, just days before Panettiere’s death, on Thursday, a Los Angeles judge denied his request to reduce his felony convictions to misdemeanors. This legal development occurred while messages were being sent to Pat Carey, an attorney representing Hickerson, seeking comment on the situation.
The police report includes observations regarding the emotional state of those present during the emergency response. The officer noted that Zach Hickerson appeared very emotional while emergency medical services worked on Panettiere. In contrast, the report states that Brian Hickerson did not become emotional until after the woman was officially declared deceased. Following these events, the officer escorted both brothers out of the apartment.
Panettiere’s public narrative in recent years had focused on her struggles with mental health and addiction, as well as her complex relationship with Hickerson. In her memoir, published in May, she discussed her decision to forgive him after his jail time. She wrote that she wanted his incarceration to be long enough to scare him but not so long that it would irreversibly traumatize him or make him a worse person. Her goal was for him to admit his wrongs and change.
The actress, who rose to fame as a child star in television series such as Heroes and Nashville, had been open about her battles with alcohol addiction and depression. She also addressed the challenges of postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Panettiere entered rehabilitation in 2015 while filming Nashville. Her daughter, now 11, has lived primarily with her father, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in Ukraine since she was two years old.
Panettiere had previously clarified misconceptions about her parenting choices, stating in a May interview that she did not simply give up her child. She described the arrangement as part of her journey through mental health struggles and addiction recovery. As the investigation into her death continues, authorities have not released further details regarding the specific circumstances leading to her unresponsiveness or any potential contributing factors beyond the initial lack of obvious physical trauma.
The case remains under active review by local law enforcement. While the immediate scene has been processed and the body examined, the redacted nature of key portions of the police report suggests that certain evidentiary details are being withheld pending further investigative steps or legal proceedings. The community and fans await more clarity as the official inquiry progresses.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Boyfriend of Hayden Panettiere was at apartment when actor died
