Hayden Panettiere passed away on Sunday after going into cardiac arrest at a South Carolina apartment complex called Judson Mill Lofts. Reports state that her former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the scene. A police incident report obtained by NBC News provides further insights.
The report from the Greenville Police Department, although heavily redacted, mentions Officer Matthew Bryan as the first responder. Zach Hickerson was visibly emotional when emergency medical services were attending to Panettiere. Brian Hickerson became emotional only after the actor was pronounced dead.
Brian Hickerson presented a bag of medication to the police, indicating medications Panettiere was taking at the time. Officer Bryan wore a body camera during the response, but the footage has not been released to the public.
Attempts to contact Brian and Zach Hickerson for comments were unsuccessful. The cause of Panettiere’s death is still under investigation, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was conducted, revealing no signs of trauma.
Authorities received a 911 call around 1:50 p.m. Sunday about a reported cardiac arrest at the apartment complex, made by an acquaintance of Panettiere.
Emergency responders initiated cardiac life support measures without success, and Panettiere was declared dead at 2:32 p.m. She had been staying temporarily at the residence.
Panettiere’s relationship with Brian Hickerson ended in 2020 amid domestic violence allegations. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, she shared her experiences, including a violent incident that left her housebound for weeks. Panettiere hesitated to report the abuse to protect her privacy.
Brian Hickerson was arrested on May 2, 2019, on charges of injuring a spouse or girlfriend and pleaded no contest in April 2021. He received a four-year probation sentence the following year. In July 2020, Panettiere sought a restraining order, although the outcome remains unclear.
Panettiere made her experience public in 2020 to encourage others in abusive situations to seek help. She stated, “I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.”
Hayden Panettiere gained fame for her roles on NBC’s Heroes and ABC’s Nashville.
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