Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away recently, as stated in a police report disclosed on Tuesday. Upon arriving at the residence, a Greenville police officer encountered the Hickerson brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to revive her, the woman, identified as 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 conclusive cause determined yet. A postmortem examination revealed no signs of foul play or trauma. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physically abusing her in the past.
Hickerson previously faced legal charges related to abuse, to which he pleaded no contest and served time in jail. Following completion of his probation and mandated counseling sessions, Hickerson sought to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors, a request denied by a Los Angeles judge recently.
The police report, although heavily redacted, indicated that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The report mentioned emotional reactions from the Hickerson brothers during the emergency response. Details of the conversation with Brian Hickerson and Panettiere’s medication list were redacted from the report.
Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed sorrow over her sudden demise, emphasizing her importance in his life and as the mother of their daughter, Kaya. Klitschko highlighted Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression, acknowledging her career achievements amidst challenges.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, shared her personal battles in her recent memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” discussing fame, addiction, and mental health issues. Panettiere’s custody arrangement for Kaya was a subject of public misconception, as clarified by the actress in prior interviews.
Numerous tributes poured in following Panettiere’s passing, with colleagues and industry figures expressing grief and admiration for her talent and spirit. Co-stars from “Heroes” and “Nashville” remembered her fondly, highlighting her impactful contributions to the entertainment industry. Panettiere’s career began as a child actor before gaining prominence in acclaimed roles like those in “Heroes” and “Nashville.”