Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away, as detailed in a police report disclosed on Tuesday. A police officer arrived at the scene on Sunday and found the Hickerson brothers and emergency responders attempting CPR on an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. with no apparent physical cause for her unresponsiveness.
The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death remain under investigation, with no determined cause yet. An autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma, and authorities have ruled out foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of domestic abuse, resulting in legal charges in 2020. Hickerson pleaded no contest to certain charges and underwent probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. His recent attempt to reduce his convictions to misdemeanors was denied by a Los Angeles court.
The police report, although heavily redacted, indicated that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. Zach appeared visibly distressed during the emergency response, while Brian reportedly showed emotion only after Panettiere was declared deceased. Details of the conversation between the officer and Brian are redacted. Additionally, a list of medications Panettiere had been taking was also redacted from the report.
Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his sorrow over her sudden passing, emphasizing her significance in his life as the mother of their daughter. Klitschko was granted full custody of their child following their separation, as Panettiere dealt with personal challenges including addiction and postpartum depression. The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, had candidly shared her struggles in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” published in May.
Tributes for Panettiere continue to flood in, with colleagues and friends mourning her loss. Co-stars like Connie Britton and Masi Oka expressed their grief and admiration for Panettiere’s talent and spirit. Creator Tim Kring of “Heroes” praised her exceptional abilities, highlighting her impact on the entertainment industry. Panettiere’s career began as a child actor, starring in productions like “Remember the Titans” before achieving fame with roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.”