Final Moments in South Carolina
On August 16, emergency responders were called to a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where 36-year-old actress Hayden Panettiere was discovered unconscious. Her partner Brian Hickerson, with whom she had a turbulent relationship, was at the scene alongside his brother Zach, who together contacted emergency services. Despite the efforts of paramedics who administered CPR and Narcan to revive the former Heroes star, she was officially declared dead at 2:32 p.m.[S1][S2][S3]
According to the police report, Brian Hickerson handed officers a bag of medication that Panettiere had reportedly been taking. The contents were redacted. The report also noted that Zach appeared very emotional while emergency workers tried to revive her, while Brian did not become emotional until after she was declared dead.[S1][S2][S3]
Tumultuous Relationship History
Panettiere and Hickerson began dating in 2018 after her split from Wladimir Klitschko. Their relationship was marked by domestic violence charges. Hickerson was arrested in 2019 and again in 2020 on eight felony charges. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony charges and was sentenced.[S1][S3]
Just three days prior to Panettiere's passing, Hickerson attended a court hearing in Los Angeles in an attempt to lower his felony charges. Despite the prosecution's opposition, the judge rejected his request. Previously, Panettiere had openly discussed the domestic violence she endured, aiming to support other survivors of abusive partnerships.[S1][S3]
Investigation and Aftermath
An autopsy conducted by the Greenville County Coroner's Office revealed no physical trauma on the body. Investigators are currently waiting for the results of toxicology screens, a process that can require as long as eight weeks to complete. At this time, law enforcement officials have detected no indications of criminal activity, leaving both the official cause and the manner of death unresolved.[S2][S4][S5]
Panettiere's father, Skip, confirmed her death in a statement. Her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko said he was deeply saddened and vowed to make sure their daughter Kaya remembers her. Her estranged mother, Lelsey Vogel, criticized Brian Hickerson's presence at her death.[S5][S6]
