Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away over the weekend, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. Upon the arrival of a Greenville police officer at the residence on Sunday afternoon, the officer encountered the brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman. The report mentioned that there were no apparent physical causes for her unresponsiveness, and despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.
The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation, with no definitive cause determined yet, and authorities have not found any signs of foul play, indicating no trauma was evident. The actress, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, who faced accusations of physically abusing her. In 2020, he faced charges of felony abuse, ultimately pleading no contest to injuring a spouse or partner, leading to a brief jail term. Subsequently, he received probation, along with requirements for anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Hickerson recently sought to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors, but this request was rejected by a Los Angeles judge.
The police report, although heavily redacted, mentioned that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The officer noted Zach’s emotional state during the emergency response, while Brian displayed emotions only after her official declaration of death. Following her passing, the brothers were escorted out of the apartment, and the officer engaged in a more detailed conversation with Brian, the specifics of which were redacted. Additionally, there was a redacted list of medications Panettiere had been taking.
Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed his sorrow over her sudden demise. As the father of their daughter, he emphasized the profound shock and grief their family was experiencing. Klitschko underscored Panettiere’s significance in his life, acknowledging her as the mother of their daughter and an essential part of his past. The pair welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2014, and following their separation in 2018, Klitschko obtained full custody due to Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 soon, detailed her personal challenges in her recently released memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” which delves into her early fame, addiction issues, and postpartum depression. She addressed misconceptions about her custody arrangement for her daughter, clarifying that she did not relinquish her parental responsibilities as commonly believed.
Tributes from colleagues and friends continue to pour in for the late actress, with heartfelt messages shared on social media honoring her memory. The entertainment industry mourns the loss of an extraordinary talent in Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” and her legacy in the film industry.