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. Upon arriving at the residence on Sunday, a Greenville police officer encountered the Hickerson brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m., with no apparent physical cause of her unresponsiveness.
The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death are still under investigation, with no conclusive cause identified yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities have not found any evidence of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physically abusing the actress. He had previously faced charges related to felony abuse, to which he pleaded no contest, leading to a brief jail term. Following completion of probation and counseling requirements, his request to downgrade the charges to misdemeanors was recently denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, despite heavy redactions, indicated that Zach Hickerson informed the responding officer that the deceased woman was his brother’s girlfriend. Notably, Brian Hickerson displayed emotional distress only after Panettiere was officially declared deceased. The report further redacted details of the conversation held with Brian and a list of Panettiere’s medications.
In light of Panettiere’s sudden death, her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko expressed sorrow and shared a heartfelt message, emphasizing the profound shock and grief experienced by their family. Klitschko, who is also the father of their daughter Kaya, underscored Panettiere’s importance in his life and vowed to always speak respectfully of her to their child. Following their separation in 2018, Panettiere granted Klitschko full custody of their daughter due to her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 soon, had recently released a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” where she candidly detailed her battles with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Despite custody arrangements, she clarified in an interview earlier this year that the misconception of giving up her child was far from reality.
Colleagues and co-stars continue to mourn Panettiere’s passing, with tributes pouring in from the entertainment industry. Connie Britton, a co-star from “Nashville,” expressed her heartbreak on social media, while Masi Oka from “Heroes” conveyed his devastation over the loss. Creator Tim Kring praised Panettiere’s exceptional talent and spirit, reminiscing about her remarkable contributions to the industry before her iconic roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Prior to her acclaimed performances, Panettiere began her acting career as a child artist, featuring in films like “Remember the Titans” alongside Denzel Washington.