Actress Hayden Panettiere was romantically linked to both Brian Hickerson and his older brother Zach Hickerson, who were both present when she was found unresponsive at a rental apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday.
First responders declared the 36-year-old former Heroes star dead at the Judson Mill Lofts complex after attempting resuscitation for nearly an hour following a 911 call reporting a suspected overdose and cardiac arrest.
Zach Hickerson, 38, discovered Panettiere unresponsive on a living room armchair around 1:30 p.m. while his 37-year-old brother Brian was asleep in a bedroom. Both brothers called emergency services when they failed to wake her.
A redacted police report shows first responders arrived within minutes of the emergency call made by an acquaintance. Zach was described as very emotional as emergency crews attempted to save Panettiere, while Brian remained stoic until she was declared dead.
Brian showed police officers a bag of medication that Panettiere had been taking while temporarily staying at the apartment complex. Emergency dispatch audio revealed a suspected overdose, and Narcan, a nasal medication used to treat opioid overdoses, was found on a mattress at the property.
A coroner report noted that Panettiere had no visible signs of trauma on her body, with a full cause of death remaining pending. She had traveled from Los Angeles to Greenville with Brian, who is originally from the area, the day before her death.
Romance with Zach Hickerson
While Brian had a tumultuous years-long relationship with Panettiere marred by domestic violence incidents, the actress was also romantically linked to his brother Zach in September 2019 while Brian was locked up for attacking her.
Panettiere and Zach were seen holding hands while strolling through Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood in New York City. A witness who saw them together at the time reported that they looked very comfortable, describing them as looking like a real couple.
It remains unclear when her romance with Zach ended, but Panettiere later rekindled her relationship with Brian despite his repeated domestic abuse arrests.
Zach Hickerson Breaks Silence
Zach, a pastor and founder of an independent church in Nashville, Tennessee, was seen in Greenville for the first time since Panettiere died.
Dressed entirely in black with dark circles visible under his eyes, Zach declined to answer questions when approached at his home in Greenville. "No comment, bro, and with no offense to you and what you're trying to do, this is private property," he said. "Please respect our privacy. I'm not going to answer anything that you ask me. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't mind just leaving us alone. I know you're just doing your job."
Domestic Abuse History and Expungement Attempt
Panettiere first began dating realtor Brian in 2018, initiating an on-off relationship marked by multiple domestic violence charges. Court records show he was arrested in May 2019 and charged with one count of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
Panettiere filed for a restraining order against Brian in July 2020, though court records do not state the outcome of that request. That same month, prosecutors charged Brian with four felony counts of domestic assault, one misdemeanor count of battery, two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and one felony count of dissuading a witness from prosecuting a crime for events between May 2019 and July 2020.
In April 2021, Brian accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend while the remaining six counts were dismissed. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of probation, $500 in fines, and mandatory domestic violence classes. He surrendered in May 2021 and served 13 days behind bars, with probation terms requiring him to attend Alcoholics Anonymous at least once a week and complete anger management sessions.
Court records obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that Brian filed a petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court to expunge his criminal record of domestic abuse charges roughly a month before Panettiere died. Judge Olivia Rosales denied the request on August 13, just three days before Panettiere's death.
In her memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere alleged that Brian once beat her so severely that she had to remain inside her house for weeks to hide her injuries. She described the relationship as a very dark and complicated time in her life and admitted she avoided reporting the abuse to police because she feared public exposure.
Despite another alleged domestic violence incident in 2020, Brian and Panettiere kept their relationship low-key and laughed at reports that they had split. Their final public appearance together occurred in March at a Los Angeles airport, where Panettiere was pictured on crutches, insisting she was dealing with pinched nerves in her lower back.
Mother and Ex-Fiancé Respond
Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke out about her daughter's death on Tuesday, telling NBC News that her family had long sought to remove Brian from her life. "This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson," Vogel said. "I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry - it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, 50, who was previously engaged to Panettiere and is the father of her 11-year-old daughter Kaya, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram on Tuesday morning.
"Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief. The announcement of Hayden's tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon," Klitschko wrote. "Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya. She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
Klitschko added: "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was. I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden's parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon. I ask everyone to please respect our family's feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say. Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden."
Panettiere had previously discussed her decision to give custody of Kaya to Klitschko in 2018 while struggling with substance addiction. In one of her final interviews, she stated: "It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make."
Brian Hickerson did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
