New details surrounding the death of Heroes actor Hayden Panettiere have emerged after a police incident report revealed that her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment complex where she died.
Panettiere, 36, went into cardiac arrest at the Judson Mill Lofts on Sunday where she had been temporarily staying.
Was Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Boyfriend Brian Hickerson At The Scene?
Yes. According to the police incident report obtained by NBC News, Greenville Police Department officers found Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson at Judson Mill Lofts when emergency services responded to the apartment.
Responding officer Matthew Bryan said he initially spoke with Zach who was described as “very emotional” while emergency medical services professionals were “working on Hayden.” According to the report, Brian Hickerson did not appear visibly emotional until EMS declared Panettiere dead.
The report further states that Brian showed police a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was taking when she died.
Officer Bryan also said he was wearing a body camera during the emergency response. But the footage recorded by the body camera has not been publicly released.
What Did Police Say About Hayden Panettiere’s Final Moments?
The report details the emergency response after authorities were called to the apartment complex. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, a 911 call was received at around 1:50 PM on Sunday regarding a “reported cardiac arrest.”
Police said the call was made by an acquaintance of Panettiere’s. The coroner’s office said, “Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying.”
First responders began cardiac life support measures at the scene. But their attempts to revive the actor were unsuccessful. Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 PM.
What Did The Autopsy Reveal About Hayden Panettiere’s Death?
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed on Monday. Officials said that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” But the cause of death is still pending further investigation.
What Was Hayden Panettiere’s Relationship With Brian Hickerson Like?
Panettiere’s relationship with Brian Hickerson had previously attracted public attention because of allegations of domestic violence. The pair’s romantic relationship appeared to end in 2020 amid those allegations.
Panettiere publicly addressed the allegations of abuse and said she wanted to speak out in the hope that others experiencing abusive relationships would seek help.
At the time, she said, “I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.
Panettiere later discussed some of her experiences in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was published three months before her death.
In the book, she wrote about an alleged incident in which Hickerson beat her so severely that she did not leave her house for weeks. Panettiere also wrote that she had initially hesitated to report the alleged abuse to police because she did not want the allegations to become public.
Hickerson was arrested on May 2, 2019, over an allegation involving injury to a spouse or girlfriend, according to Los Angeles County criminal court records.
He later pleaded no contest on April 20, 2021, and was sentenced the following year to four years of probation.
What Was Hayden Panettiere Best Known For?
Panettiere built her career as a child actor before becoming widely known for her television roles. She gained major recognition playing a high school cheerleader with special powers in NBC’s Heroes.
She later starred as country music performer Juliette Barnes in ABC’s Nashville.
