Police Report Reveals Ex-Boyfriend Brian Hickerson Present During Hayden Panettiere’s Fatal Cardiac Arrest

PUBLISHED Aug 20, 2026, 12:43 AM ET

Actor Hayden Panettiere was found dead on August 16 at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, at age 36. A recently released police report confirms that her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, were present inside the residence during the emergency response. Responding officers found emergency medical personnel performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation before Panettiere was pronounced dead. According to the documentation, Brian Hickerson handed responding officers a bag containing medications that Panettiere had been taking, though specific names were redacted. An autopsy conducted by the Greenville County Coroner's Office revealed no signs of trauma contributing to the fatality. Investigators stated there were no immediate signs of foul play, and the official cause of death remains undetermined pending toxicology results. Panettiere had a documented history of struggling with addiction and public volatility regarding her past relationship with Hickerson. The investigation remains open as local authorities await final laboratory reports.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

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