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 arriving at the residence on Sunday afternoon, a Greenville police officer encountered the Hickerson brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. The report states that 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, with no determined cause yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma, and authorities ruled out foul play. The 36-year-old actress had a turbulent relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physical abuse towards her. Hickerson faced charges in 2020 related to felony abuse, to which he pleaded no contest and served a brief jail term. Subsequently, he was sentenced to probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. His request to downgrade his convictions to misdemeanors was recently denied.
The police report, heavily redacted, mentioned Zach Hickerson identifying the deceased as his brother’s girlfriend. The officer noted Zach’s emotional state during the emergency response, while Brian became visibly upset only after Panettiere was declared deceased. Details of the conversation with Brian were redacted. Additionally, a list of Panettiere’s medications was also redacted.
Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his grief over her sudden passing, emphasizing her importance in his life and as a parent to their daughter. The couple’s daughter, Kaya, born in 2014, is under Klitschko’s full custody following their separation due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, candidly shared her personal challenges in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” She addressed issues such as early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression, shedding light on her custody arrangement for Kaya. Tributes poured in for Panettiere, with colleagues remembering her as a talented and vibrant individual who made a significant impact in their lives and the entertainment industry.
