Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend Brian Hickerson’s Lawyer Speaks Out After Her Sudden Death in South Carolina

Key Points:

• Actress Hayden Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina; she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest, with no signs of trauma found in the autopsy.
• Her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was present at the scene along with his brother, released a statement through his lawyer emphasizing that the death remains under investigation and asking for respect for the ongoing process.
• Panettiere had publicly struggled with addiction during her relationship with Hickerson, who faced multiple arrests for domestic violence between 2019 and 2020 and was sentenced in 2021 to jail time, probation, and a protective order.
• The actress is survived by her 11-year-old daughter Kaya, whom she shared with ex-fiancé and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who paid tribute to Panettiere expressing shock and grief over her passing.
• Authorities confirmed no foul play was suspected, and Panettiere’s remains were released to her family on August 18 for funeral arrangements.