Police Investigate Brian Hickerson Days After Panettiere's Death.
Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were inside the Greenville, South Carolina apartment complex when Hayden Panettiere went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. on August 16.
- Hickerson showed the responding officer a bag of medication Panettiere was taking.
- 911 dispatch audio referenced a possible overdose and cardiac arrest, per Newsweek.
- An autopsy completed Monday found no signs of trauma contributing to her death.
- Panettiere and Hickerson flew together from Los Angeles to South Carolina on August 15.
Why it matters: Hickerson's presence revives public attention on a relationship marked by documented violence. Between 2019 and 2020, he was arrested multiple times on domestic violence charges involving Panettiere.
- In April 2021, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant.
- A source told TMZ that Panettiere's team advised her to distance herself from Hickerson publicly, even though they remained privately together.
How 30 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether Hickerson and Panettiere were in an active romantic relationship at the time of her death — or had separated, as her representatives said in March — is disputed between her team's public statements and accounts from sources close to Hickerson.
Center coverage, 9 sources: The center leads with Hickerson's presence at the death scene and the claim, sourced to people close to him, that the couple's relationship was more continuous and private than publicly known.
TMZ1w+Hayden Panettiere Death: Cops Show Up to Brian Hickerson's Family Home
USA Today1w+Hayden Panettiere's mom says family was 'trying to get rid of' ex-boyfriend
Associated Press1w+Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
Chicago Tribune1w+Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report saysCNCTV News1w+Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
Newsweek1w+What to know about Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend, Brian HickersonPenPennLive1w+Hayden Panettiere’s abusive ex-boyfriend was at the scene when she died, police report saysWPWPXI Pittsburgh1w+Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report saysYNYahoo News1w+Hayden Panettiere could have taken ‘killer’ cocktail, psychiatrist saysLeft coverage, 11 sources: The left focuses on verified police documentation — the incident report, the coroner's statement, and the pending investigation — keeping Hickerson's role limited to what officers recorded at the scene.
NBC News1w+Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend was at scene when she died, police report says
The Independent1w+Who is Brian Hickerson? Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend was with star when she died
The Daily Beast1w+Troubled Star’s Estranged Mom Takes Aim at Abusive Boyfriend
ABC News1w+Hayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson was at the scene when she died: Police
CBS News1w+Hayden Panettiere was with on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson when she died, police report saysCleCleveland.com1w+Hayden Panettiere’s abusive ex-boyfriend was at the scene when she died, police report says
Complex1w+Hayden Panettiere's Mother Breaks Silence Following Her Death, Criticizes Daughter’s Boyfriend
Hollywood Reporter1w+Hayden Panettiere’s Mom Breaks Silence, Calls Out Boyfriend Who Was “With Her at Her Death”
Rolling Stone1w+Hayden Panettiere’s Mom Speaks Out Against Boyfriend Brian HickersonTBGThe Boston Globe1w+Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
The Guardian1w+Boyfriend of Hayden Panettiere was at apartment when actor diedRight coverage, 10 sources: The right frames the story through the full arc of a violent relationship, detailing each arrest and conviction and placing Hickerson's presence at the scene within that pattern.
Daily Mail1w+Cops descend on South Carolina home linked to BOTH brothers who were together at the scene after Hayden Panettiere's suspected overdose...days following her shock death
New York Post1w+Brian Hickerson's brother, Zach, seen for the first time since finding Hayden Panettiere in 'cardiac arrest'
The Sun1w+Police visit Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson’s family home after star died by his side aged 36
Fox News1w+Hayden Panettiere’s ex Brian Hickerson reportedly handed police bag of medication after her death
Breitbart News1w+Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Blasts 'Scream' Star's Boyfriend Brian Hickerson, Who Was at Apartment Where She Died
Just the News1w+Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend showed police medicine the actress was taking at time of death: report
NTD1w+Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend and His Brother Were at Scene of Actress’s Death, Police Report Says
The Daily Caller1w+REPORT: Shocking Details Surface About Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend At Time Of Her Death
The Daily Wire1w+New Detail Emerges About What Hayden Panettiere Was Taking Before Her Death
The Post Millennial1w+Hayden Panettiere’s abusive boyfriend and his brother were with her when she diedWhat’s next: The Greenville County Coroner's Office says cause of death is pending further investigation.
- Body camera footage from responding officer Matthew Bryan has not been publicly released.
- What was the official cause of death, and will toxicology results change how authorities characterize the circumstances?
- Will Greenville police release the body camera footage from the responding officer?
- What is the legal status of Panettiere's daughter Kaya, 11, who lives primarily in Ukraine with Wladimir Klitschko?