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. A police officer arrived at the residence on Sunday and found the brothers there, with paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was declared deceased at 2:31 p.m. The cause of death is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing. A post-mortem examination revealed no signs of physical trauma, and authorities did not detect any foul play. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced allegations of physically abusing the actress. In 2020, he was charged with felony abuse, pleaded no contest to two counts of harming a spouse or partner, and served a brief jail term. Subsequently, he received four years of probation, attended anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. His recent plea to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors was rejected by a Los Angeles judge last Thursday.
The police report, which has significant redactions, indicated that Zach Hickerson informed the responding officer that the unresponsive woman was his brother’s girlfriend. The officer noted Zach’s emotional state while emergency services attended to Panettiere. Brian became emotional only after her official declaration of death. Following her passing, the officer escorted the brothers out of the apartment. Details of an extensive conversation with Brian are redacted in the report, as is a list of medications Panettiere was taking.
Panettiere’s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his grief over the sudden loss of the actress. Klitschko, the Ukrainian boxer and father of their 11-year-old daughter, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, emphasizing Panettiere’s importance in his life. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2014, and after their split in 2018, Klitschko obtained full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Klitschko urged respect for their family’s privacy during this challenging period.
The late actress, who would have turned 37 soon, had openly discussed her personal challenges in her memoir titled “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released in May. In various interviews, Panettiere addressed her custody arrangements for her daughter with Klitschko, debunking misconceptions about her role as a mother. Tributes continue to flood in for Panettiere, with colleagues and friends expressing their sorrow. Connie Britton, her co-star from “Nashville,” and Masi Oka from “Heroes” remembered her fondly for her talent and spirit. Tim Kring, the creator of “Heroes,” lauded Panettiere’s exceptional acting abilities. Before her notable roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere had begun her acting career as a child artist, appearing in films like “Remember the Titans” in 2000.