Hayden Panettiere’s Partner Present at Her Death

Hayden Panettiere’s intermittent partner Brian Hickerson and his sibling Zach Hickerson were present at the South Carolina apartment where the actress passed away over the weekend, as per a police report disclosed on Tuesday. A Greenville police officer, who arrived at the residence Sunday afternoon, encountered the brothers and witnessed paramedics administering CPR to an unresponsive woman, the report details. The officer remarked that the woman did not exhibit any apparent physical causes for her unresponsiveness. Despite efforts to revive her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. No definitive cause of death has been established, and investigations are ongoing. An autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma, and authorities stated that foul play was not suspected. Panettiere, aged 36, had a tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, with allegations of physical abuse against the 37-year-old aspiring actor. Hickerson faced charges in 2020 related to multiple felony abuses. He later pleaded no contest to two counts of harming a spouse or partner, resulting in a brief jail term. Subsequently, he was placed on four years of probation along with mandatory anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. Recently, Hickerson’s plea to downgrade his conviction to misdemeanors was rejected by a Los Angeles judge. The police report, heavily redacted, mentioned that Zach Hickerson identified the unresponsive woman as his brother’s girlfriend. The officer noted Zach’s emotional state during the emergency response, with Brian becoming visibly affected only after her official declaration of death by paramedics. Following her demise, the officer escorted the Hickerson brothers out of the apartment. Details of the conversation with Brian were redacted in the report, as was a list of medications Panettiere was reportedly taking. Panettiere’s former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko expressed his grief over her sudden passing. Klitschko, a Ukrainian boxer and father of their daughter Kaya, 11, conveyed his deep sadness at the news of Panettiere’s tragic death. He emphasized her significance in his life and their daughter’s, acknowledging her early departure from the world. Panettiere and Klitschko welcomed Kaya in December 2014. After their separation in 2018, Panettiere granted Klitschko full custody due to her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Klitschko urged respect for their privacy during this challenging time and vowed to uphold Panettiere’s memory with reverence. The late actress, who would have turned 37 on Friday, openly shared her personal battles in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released in May. Within the book, she detailed her experiences with early fame, addiction, and postpartum depression. In a podcast interview earlier this year, Panettiere clarified misconceptions about her daughter’s custody arrangement, emphasizing her commitment to motherhood despite living apart from her child. Tributes continue to flood in for Panettiere, with co-stars and industry figures expressing their sorrow over her untimely death. Connie Britton, Panettiere’s co-star on “Nashville,” and Masi Oka from “Heroes” conveyed their heartbreak and admiration for her talent and spirit. Tim Kring, creator of “Heroes,” lauded Panettiere’s extraordinary talent and the impact she had on those around her. Prior to her notable roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” Panettiere kickstarted her acting career as a child star, featuring in films like “Remember the Titans” in 2000 alongside Denzel Washington.