Reportedly, Hayden Panettiere's Boyfriend Sent Threatening Texts
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 29 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, 8 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.
TMZ12hHayden Panettiere: BF's Brother Who Found Her Dead Seen for First Time Since Discovery
USA Today15hHayden Panettiere's mom says family was 'trying to get rid of' ex-boyfriend
Associated Press15hHayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
Chicago Tribune12hHayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report saysCNCTV News14hHayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
Newsweek2dWhat to know about Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend, Brian HickersonPenPennLive17hHayden Panettiere’s abusive ex-boyfriend was at the scene when she died, police report saysWPWPXI Pittsburgh15hHayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report 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 News20hHayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend was at scene when she died, police report says
The Independent50mWho is Brian Hickerson? Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend was with star when she died
The Daily Beast13hTroubled Star’s Estranged Mom Takes Aim at Abusive Boyfriend
ABC News15hHayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson was at the scene when she died: Police
CBS News16hHayden Panettiere was with on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson when she died, police report saysCleCleveland.com17hHayden Panettiere’s abusive ex-boyfriend was at the scene when she died, police report says
Complex16hHayden Panettiere's Mother Breaks Silence Following Her Death, Criticizes Daughter’s Boyfriend
Hollywood Reporter16hHayden Panettiere’s Mom Breaks Silence, Calls Out Boyfriend Who Was “With Her at Her Death”
Rolling Stone15hHayden Panettiere’s Mom Speaks Out Against Boyfriend Brian HickersonTBGThe Boston Globe13hPanettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
The Guardian12hBoyfriend 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 Mail9hHayden Panettiere death twist that is 'almost too much to bear': Star's friends tell ROB SHUTER of devastating final insult... and every toxic detail of relationship with 'hated' Brian Hickerson
New York Post9hHayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson allegedly sent threatening texts after 2020 arrest
The Sun16hHayden Panettiere’s mother Lesley breaks silence after actress’s shocking death and SLAMS her boyfriend Brian Hickerson
Breitbart News9hHayden Panettiere’s Mother Blasts 'Scream' Star's Boyfriend Brian Hickerson, Who Was at Apartment Where She Died
Fox News14hHayden Panettiere's mother points finger at Brian Hickerson after 'Nashville' star's death at 36
Just the News17hPanettiere’s ex-boyfriend showed police medicine the actress was taking at time of death: report
NTD14hHayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend and His Brother Were at Scene of Actress’s Death, Police Report Says
The Daily Caller10hREPORT: Shocking Details Surface About Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend At Time Of Her Death
The Daily Wire1dNew Detail Emerges About What Hayden Panettiere Was Taking Before Her Death
The Post Millennial17hHayden 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?