Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend was present at apartment when actor died, police report says

Police report reveals Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, was present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress died over the weekend. A Greenville police officer met the brothers, Zach and Brian Hickerson, at the scene on Sunday afternoon and observed paramedics performing CPR on an unresponsive woman.

The officer noted that while the woman appeared unresponsive, there were no obvious physical reasons for her condition. After attempts at lifesaving measures, the emergency workers pronounced Hayden Panettiere deceased at 2:31 p.m. An autopsy found no signs of trauma, and police reported no evidence of foul play. The autopsy did not list any medications Panettiere had been taking.

Panettiere, who rose to fame in the TV shows Heroes and Nashville, struggled with alcohol addiction and depression throughout her life. She had been in a tumultuous relationship with Hickerson for years, with allegations of physical abuse against her. Hickerson was charged in 2020 with multiple counts of felony abuse and served time in jail, but recently requested to have his conviction reduced to misdemeanors, which was denied.