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 the officer’s arrival at the residence on Sunday, the Hickerson brothers were encountered, and emergency responders were seen administering CPR to an unresponsive woman.
The officer noted that there were no apparent physical causes for the woman’s unresponsiveness. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. Her death is currently under investigation, with no determined cause yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and authorities found no indications of foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, was known to have a turbulent relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physically abusing her.
Hickerson had faced charges in 2020 related to felony abuse, to which he pleaded no contest, resulting in a brief jail term and subsequent probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, he sought to downgrade his convictions to misdemeanors, but the request was denied by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, heavily redacted, mentioned Zach Hickerson identifying the woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The officer observed Zach’s emotional state during the medical response, noting Brian’s emotional reaction upon the official declaration of Panettiere’s death. Following her passing, the brothers were escorted out of the apartment, and further conversations with Brian were redacted from the report.
Additionally, a list of medications taken by Panettiere was redacted from the report. Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed sorrow over her sudden demise, highlighting her significance in his life and as the mother of their daughter, Kaya.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, had been candid about her personal challenges in her recent memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” In the memoir, she discussed struggles with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. Klitschko retained full custody of their daughter after their separation in 2018, as Panettiere faced difficulties with addiction and depression.
Tributes and condolences continue to pour in for Panettiere, with co-stars and colleagues expressing their grief and admiration for her talent and spirit. Panettiere’s legacy extends beyond her well-known roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” as she initially gained recognition as a child actor in films like “Remember the Titans.”