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 responding to the residence, 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 for her unresponsiveness.
The investigation into Panettiere’s death is ongoing, and no definitive cause has been determined yet. The autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities have not found any indication of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physical abuse against the actress in the past.
In 2020, Brian Hickerson was charged with multiple counts of felony abuse, to which he pleaded no contest, resulting in a brief jail term. He was subsequently placed on probation and mandated to attend anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Hickerson recently sought to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors but was denied by a Los Angeles judge last Thursday.
The police report, heavily redacted, indicated that Zach Hickerson informed the responding officer that the unresponsive woman was his brother’s girlfriend. Brian Hickerson displayed emotions only after Panettiere was declared deceased. Details of the conversation with Brian were redacted. Additionally, a list of medications Panettiere was taking was also redacted in the report.
Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his sorrow over her sudden death, highlighting her significance in his life and as the mother of their daughter, Kaya. The couple welcomed Kaya in 2014 and parted ways in 2018, with Klitschko gaining full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, had been candid about her personal challenges, as documented in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” Panettiere discussed her custody arrangement for Kaya and dispelled misconceptions about giving up her child. Tributes from colleagues and friends continue to pour in for Panettiere, with heartfelt messages shared across social media platforms.
