Hayden Panettiere’s Relationship With Brian Hickerson Comes Into Focus After New Police Report
Hayden Panettiere’s former boyfriend Brian Hickerson was at the South Carolina apartment complex where the actor died, according to a police incident report obtained by NBC News.
The report says Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville when Panettiere suffered cardiac arrest on Sunday. Panettiere was 36 years old.
What the Police Report Says
According to the report, Greenville police officers arrived at the apartment complex after authorities received a report of a cardiac arrest.
Responding officer Matthew Bryan said he spoke with Zach Hickerson while emergency medical workers were treating Panettiere. The officer described Zach as very emotional during the emergency response.
The report says Brian Hickerson did not appear visibly emotional until emergency medical personnel declared Panettiere dead.
Police also said Hickerson showed officers a bag containing medication that Panettiere had been taking.
The incident report has been heavily redacted. Police have also said that the responding officer was wearing a body camera during the emergency response. The footage has not been publicly released.
What Authorities Have Said About Hayden Panettiere’s Death
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said authorities received a 911 call at about 1:50 p.m. Sunday. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence where she had been temporarily staying.
Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Officials pronounced her dead at 2:32 p.m.
The coroner’s office said an autopsy had been completed. Officials also reported that they found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
However, the cause of death remains under investigation. For that reason, it is important not to draw conclusions about what caused Panettiere’s death until authorities release their final findings.
Brian Hickerson’s Relationship With Panettiere
Panettiere and Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship that ended amid allegations of domestic violence.
Panettiere previously spoke publicly about her experiences with Hickerson. She also discussed the relationship in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
According to court records cited in the report, Hickerson was arrested in 2019 following an allegation involving a spouse or girlfriend. He later pleaded no contest and received a four-year probation sentence.
Panettiere also requested a restraining order against Hickerson in 2020. The available court records do not clearly show the outcome of that request.
At the time, Panettiere said she wanted to speak openly about the alleged abuse to encourage other people in abusive relationships to seek help.
Hayden Panettiere’s Career
Panettiere became widely known through her role as Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes. The series helped make her a familiar face on television.
She later starred as Juliette Barnes on ABC’s Nashville. The role also allowed her to showcase her singing talent.
Her career included television, film and music projects. Fans also knew her for her work in animated films and other entertainment projects.
Investigation Into Panettiere’s Death Continues
The latest police report provides more information about the circumstances surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s final moments. However, it does not establish a cause of death or suggest that anyone caused her death.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the case. The coroner’s final findings will provide more information about what led to Panettiere’s death.
For now, the confirmed details are that Panettiere suffered cardiac arrest, emergency responders attempted resuscitation, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her cause of death remains pending further investigation.