Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, along with his brother Zach Hickerson, were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. A Greenville police officer arrived at the residence on Sunday afternoon and found the brothers there, with paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman.
The officer mentioned that there were no apparent physical causes for the woman’s unresponsiveness. Despite attempts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. The investigation into her death is ongoing, with no determined cause yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma, and authorities did not suspect foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Hickerson, who faced allegations of domestic abuse.
Hickerson faced charges of felony abuse in 2020, to which he pleaded no contest for injuring a spouse or partner. He served a brief jail term and was sentenced to probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, he sought to lessen his conviction to misdemeanors, but the request was denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, which had substantial redactions, mentioned that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The report noted Zach’s emotional state during the emergency response and that Brian became emotional only after Panettiere was declared deceased. The officer escorted the brothers out after her passing, and details of the conversation with Brian were redacted.
Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed sorrow over her sudden death, calling it a profound shock for their family. Klitschko, who shares a daughter with Panettiere, emphasized her importance in his life despite their separation. Panettiere and Klitschko welcomed their daughter in 2014, and after their split in 2018, Klitschko gained full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
The late actress had recently released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” where she candidly discussed her challenges with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Panettiere clarified misconceptions surrounding her custody arrangement for her daughter in an interview earlier this year.
Tributes for Panettiere continue to flood in from colleagues and friends, highlighting her talent and spirit. Co-stars like Connie Britton and Masi Oka expressed their heartfelt condolences, remembering Panettiere for her positive energy and acting prowess. Creator Tim Kring of “Heroes” praised Panettiere’s exceptional talent and described her as a dream actress to write for.
Before gaining fame through “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere began her acting career as a child star, appearing in films like “Remember the Titans” in 2000 alongside Denzel Washington.