Wednesday, 19 August 2026CurrentDeck — Live news signals. Clear context.
CDCurrentDeck
Signal-rich news, source-grounded context
Entertainment

Hayden Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend at scene where she die…

Police reports confirm Hayden Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson was present at the scene when the 36-year-old actress was found dead in South Carolina.

Hayden Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend at scene where she die…
Hayden Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend at scene where she die…

Hayden Panettiere's Death Investigation Continues

Hollywood is still reeling from the sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away at the age of 36 in Greenville, South Carolina. According to a police report, Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, were at the scene where she died.

Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has spoken out about her daughter's death, saying "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," as reported by NBC News. Vogel expressed concerns about the relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson, which was marked by years of alleged physical abuse and multiple arrests for domestic violence.

A police report revealed that Hickerson and his brother called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive in her apartment. Emergency medical personnel attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is still pending, and the investigation is ongoing.

Panettiere's ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, said that Panettiere was an "important part of my life" and that he would always speak of her with respect to their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, as reported by USA TODAY.

Panettiere's struggles with addiction and mental health have been well-documented, and her mother has spoken about the challenges she faced growing up in the entertainment industry. Vogel said that her daughter was an "incredibly talented person" who had lost her way, and that she wished things had been different.

The investigation into Panettiere's death is ongoing, with the Greenville County Coroner's Office working to determine the cause of death. The coroner's report is expected to take up to three months to complete, as reported by USA TODAY.

Brian Hickerson's History of Abuse

Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend, has a history of abuse and has been charged with multiple counts of felony abuse. In 2020, he pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner and was sentenced to four years of probation and anger management classes, as reported by abc.net.au.

Hickerson's relationship with Panettiere was marked by years of alleged physical abuse and multiple arrests for domestic violence. Panettiere's mother has spoken out about the abuse, saying that she had tried to keep Hickerson away from her daughter but that Panettiere had continued to see him.

The police report from the scene of Panettiere's death reveals that Hickerson and his brother were present when Panettiere was found unresponsive. The report also notes that Hickerson showed police a "bag of medication" that Panettiere was allegedly taking at the time of her death, as reported by indystar.com.

Hayden Panettiere's Legacy

Hayden Panettiere's death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, and her legacy as a talented actress and advocate for social justice is being remembered. Panettiere got her start in the entertainment industry at a young age, appearing in several TV shows and films, including "Heroes" and "Nashville," as reported by abc.net.au.

Panettiere was also a vocal advocate for animal rights and had worked with several organizations to raise awareness about important issues. In 2008, she headed to Washington, D.C. To speak out against commercial whaling, and in 2007, she donned a wetsuit and swam into a cove in protest of an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan, as reported by indystar.com.

Panettiere's advocacy work and her talent as an actress have inspired many, and her legacy will be remembered for years to come. Her family and friends are mourning her loss, and the investigation into her death is ongoing.

Reporting based on coverage by abc.net.au. Additional source material: abc.net.au, indystar.com, jen.jiji.com, m.abc.net.au, jen.jiji.com.

Related stories