Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, tragically passed away after suffering cardiac arrest at an apartment complex in South Carolina. A police incident report obtained by NBC News revealed that her on-and-off partner, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were present at the scene.
The report, heavily redacted, indicates Officer Matthew Bryan spoke with Zach Hickerson, who appeared very emotional during the incident while emergency medical services attempted to revive Panettiere. Brian Hickerson’s visible distress emerged once the 36-year-old actress was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. A body camera worn by Officer Bryan captured the emergency response, although the footage hasn’t been released publicly.
Brian Hickerson reportedly showed a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was taking at the time of her demise. No direct comments were provided by Brian or Zach Hickerson when approached by NBC News.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office disclosed that an autopsy was performed but revealed no signs of trauma related to her death. Results of further investigation into the cause of death are pending.
A 911 call was made around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, indicating cardiac arrest. First responders found Panettiere unresponsive in her temporary residence and initiated cardiac life support measures without success.
Panettiere’s relationship with Brian Hickerson ended amid domestic violence allegations in 2020. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published shortly before her death, she recounted experiences of abuse, including a severe beating by Hickerson. Despite hesitating to report the abuse to authorities due to public perception concerns, she went public to encourage others in abusive situations to seek help.
Brian Hickerson was arrested in May 2019 for allegedly injuring a partner. He pleaded no contest in 2021 and received probation. Panettiere sought a restraining order against him in July 2020, though the case outcome remains unclear.
Through her public statement, Panettiere emphasized her determination to prevent Hickerson from harming others again. Although her life was cut short, her legacy in television and as an advocate against domestic abuse persists.
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