Home / Arts and Entertainment / Hayden Panettiere's Boyfriend, Brother Present at Death
Hayden Panettiere's Boyfriend, Brother Present at Death
18 Aug
Summary
- Boyfriend and his brother were present when Hayden Panettiere was found.
- Autopsy completed, but cause of death remains pending for up to eight weeks.
- Panettiere detailed struggles with addiction and abuse in her memoir.
Actress Hayden Panettiere was discovered unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday, with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, present. According to a police report, Zach Hickerson made the 911 call that alerted first responders. Firefighters and EMS attempted life-saving measures before Panettiere was pronounced deceased at 2:31 p.m.
Officer Matthew Bryan noted in the report that Panettiere did not appear to have obvious physical reasons for her unresponsiveness. Brian Hickerson reportedly presented officers with a bag of Panettiere's medications. Panettiere's death is currently under investigation, though preliminary findings have not indicated foul play.
An autopsy was completed on Monday, but the cause and manner of her death are pending and may take up to eight weeks to be determined. Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," had openly discussed her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Her brother, Jansen, passed away earlier in 2026.
In May 2026, Panettiere released her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," detailing her experiences as a child actor, addiction, and abuse, aiming to help others live their truth. She had stated she was actively working on her well-being.
