Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away over the weekend, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. A Greenville police officer arrived at the residence on Sunday afternoon and found the brothers there, witnessing paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. The officer noted that the woman showed no apparent physical cause for being unresponsive. Despite efforts to save her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.
The exact cause of her death is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing. An initial autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities stated no evidence of foul play was observed. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physical abuse towards the actress.
In 2020, Brian Hickerson faced charges of felony abuse, to which he later pleaded no contest for two counts of injuring a spouse or partner. He served a brief jail term as part of his sentence, followed by four years of probation along with anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, his plea to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors was denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, though heavily redacted, revealed that Zach Hickerson informed the responding officer that the unresponsive woman was his brother’s girlfriend. The report described Zach as visibly emotional during the medical response, contrasting with Brian’s emotional reaction only after the woman was declared deceased. Following her passing, the officer escorted the brothers out of the apartment and engaged in a detailed conversation with Brian, details of which were redacted.
Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his grief over her sudden death. Klitschko, a Ukrainian boxer and father of their daughter Kaya, shared a heartfelt message stating the family’s deep shock and sorrow over the tragic news. The couple welcomed Kaya in 2014, and after their separation in 2018, Panettiere granted full custody to Klitschko due to her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 the following Friday, had candidly discussed her personal challenges in her recently released memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” The memoir delves into her experiences with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Panettiere had also addressed misconceptions around her custody arrangement for her daughter in past interviews, emphasizing her continued connection with her child.
Tributes for the late actress continue to pour in from colleagues and friends, highlighting Panettiere’s talent and spirit. Her co-stars from “Nashville” and “Heroes” expressed their sadness and fond memories of working with her. Creator Tim Kring of “Heroes” praised Panettiere’s exceptional talent and the impact she had on those around her. Before gaining fame in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere began her acting career as a child star, featuring in films like “Remember the Titans” alongside Denzel Washington.