Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away on the weekend, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. A Greenville police officer arrived at the residence on Sunday afternoon and found the Hickerson brothers there, alongside paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. The officer noted that there were no obvious physical reasons for the woman’s unresponsiveness. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.
The cause of death is undetermined, and an investigation is ongoing. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities stated that no foul play was suspected. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physically abusing the actress. In 2020, he was charged with multiple counts of felony abuse, to which he pleaded no contest, resulting in a short jail term. Following this, he received four years of probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Hickerson recently sought to lessen his conviction to misdemeanors, a request denied by a Los Angeles judge last Thursday.
The police report, extensively redacted, highlighted Zach Hickerson’s emotional state during the incident, while Brian became visibly distraught only after Panettiere was pronounced dead. The report did not disclose the details of the conversation with Brian or the list of medications Panettiere was taking.
Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his grief over her sudden demise. Klitschko, a Ukrainian boxer and father of their daughter Kaya, shared a poignant message on Instagram, emphasizing Panettiere’s significance in his life. The couple welcomed Kaya in 2014, but following their split in 2018, Klitschko was granted full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Klitschko urged respect for the family’s privacy during this challenging period.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 soon, had been candid about her personal battles in her recent memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released in May. She addressed issues of early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression, shedding light on her custody arrangement for her daughter. Colleagues and friends continue to pay homage to the late actress, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from co-stars and industry figures, celebrating her talent and spirit. Panettiere’s legacy extends beyond her acclaimed roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” as she initially rose to fame as a child actor in films like “Remember the Titans.”
Tributes and condolences continue to flood in for Hayden Panettiere, remembered for her talent and spirit in the entertainment industry.