Police Report Reveals Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Boyfriend Was Present When Actress Died

New information has emerged about the final moments of actress Hayden Panettiere’s life, with a police report confirming that her former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present at the South Carolina residence where she was found unresponsive.

Panettiere, who was 36, died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. The actress was widely recognized for her work in television and film, including memorable roles in Heroes and Nashville, as well as appearances in Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Raising Helen, and the Scream franchise.

According to a police report obtained by ABC News, officers were called to a residence on Easley Bridge Road after emergency services requested assistance with an unresponsive individual.

When the responding officer arrived, emergency medical personnel were already treating Panettiere. The report stated that she appeared unresponsive and that there was no immediately apparent physical explanation for her condition.

Paramedics reportedly spent an extended period attempting to revive her. Despite their efforts, the emergency response was ultimately unsuccessful, and Panettiere was pronounced dead at approximately 2:31 or 2:32 p.m., according to official records.

During the response, officers spoke with Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, both of whom were at the residence.

The police report indicates that Zach described Panettiere as his brother’s girlfriend. The responding officer also documented the emotional reactions of the two brothers as emergency personnel continued working to save the actress.

According to the report, Zach appeared visibly distressed while medical workers were performing life-saving procedures. Brian, however, reportedly did not show an emotional reaction until after Panettiere had officially been pronounced dead.

The report simply records what the officer observed and does not provide an explanation for the differences in their reactions. A person’s response to an emergency can vary considerably, and the observations documented by police do not by themselves indicate that Hickerson was responsible for Panettiere’s death.

The officer also reported that Brian showed authorities a bag containing medications that Panettiere had reportedly been taking. The police document does not establish whether any of those medications played a role in her death.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed that Panettiere had consumed drugs or alcohol before she died. The question of whether substances contributed to her death remains part of the investigation.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office later issued a statement explaining that emergency responders had been dispatched following a 911 call. Panettiere was reportedly found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest.

Emergency personnel immediately began advanced life-support procedures, but the resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Officials subsequently pronounced the actress dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on Monday. According to the coroner’s office, the examination did not reveal signs of trauma that appeared to have contributed to Panettiere’s death.

However, authorities have not yet announced a definitive cause or manner of death. Additional testing and investigative work are required before officials can reach a final conclusion.

Toxicology and other forensic studies may therefore become important in determining what happened. Such testing can take time, particularly when investigators are examining multiple possible substances or medical factors.

Officials also confirmed that Panettiere had been staying temporarily at the residence where she was found. Both the Greenville County Coroner’s Office and the Greenville City Police Department have opened investigations into her death.

Police also requested surveillance footage from the property and indicated that additional documentation would be prepared as the investigation continued. The responding officer reportedly executed a search warrant as part of the inquiry.

The presence of Hickerson at the scene has attracted particular attention because of the couple’s complicated history.

Panettiere and Hickerson began dating in 2018, following the end of her relationship with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Panettiere and Klitschko share a daughter, Kaya.

Over the years, Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship became increasingly controversial because of allegations involving domestic violence.

Panettiere publicly discussed her experiences in 2020, explaining that she wanted to speak about what she had experienced in the hope that her story could encourage other people in abusive relationships to seek assistance.

At the time, she expressed gratitude toward the people who supported her as she worked to regain control of her life and find the confidence to speak publicly.

Hickerson later faced criminal proceedings connected to allegations involving Panettiere. In April 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony charges involving injury to a spouse or girlfriend.

The legal consequences included a period of incarceration, probation, domestic-violence-related requirements, and other court-ordered conditions.

More recently, Hickerson sought to have his felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors and requested that the case be expunged from his criminal record.

A California judge rejected that request on August 13, 2026, just days before Panettiere’s death.

The timing has naturally drawn attention, but the ruling itself does not establish any connection to the actress’s death.

Authorities have not accused Hickerson of causing Panettiere’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing. His presence at the residence, while significant to the timeline being examined by investigators, should not be interpreted as evidence of criminal responsibility without further findings.

Panettiere’s death has generated an outpouring of reaction throughout Hollywood. Fans and colleagues have remembered her for a career that began when she was young and eventually included major television roles, feature films, and appearances in several well-known franchises.

Her performance as Claire Bennet in Heroes helped establish her as an international television star. She later became closely associated with Nashville, where she portrayed Juliette Barnes and demonstrated her abilities as both an actress and singer.

Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Raising Helen, and several installments of the Scream series.

Beyond her professional achievements, Panettiere had also been candid about personal challenges throughout her life. She spoke publicly about issues involving mental health, substance use, and difficult relationships, often using her experiences to encourage others to seek help.

Her previous comments regarding domestic abuse have now resurfaced following news of her death, particularly because Hickerson was reportedly present when emergency workers attempted to save her.

Nevertheless, investigators have not yet determined what caused Panettiere’s death.

The coroner’s statement that no obvious traumatic injuries were found provides one piece of information, but it does not answer whether medical conditions, medications, substances, or other circumstances contributed to the fatal event.

The police report also does not establish that Panettiere died from an overdose. Although officers reportedly documented medications at the residence, only forensic testing can determine whether any particular substance was present in her system and whether it contributed to her death.

As authorities continue examining the circumstances, the timeline of Panettiere’s final hours will likely become clearer. Investigators may review surveillance footage, witness accounts, medical evidence, toxicology results, and information obtained during the search of the residence.

For now, officials have emphasized that the cause and manner of death remain pending.

Panettiere’s family, friends, colleagues, and fans are left waiting for those answers while authorities complete their investigation. The actress’s death marks the loss of a performer whose career spanned decades, from childhood appearances to major television and film roles.

While the circumstances surrounding her final hours remain under investigation, officials have yet to announce evidence indicating that her death was caused by another person. Any conclusions about the role of medications, substances, or individuals at the scene should therefore await the completion of the forensic and police investigations.