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Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend was at scene when she died, police report says
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Hayden Panettiere’s former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother were present at the South Carolina apartment complex where the actor suffered cardiac arrest and died, according to a police report.
- Emergency responders attempted resuscitation after Panettiere was found unresponsive, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Sunday; an autopsy showed no signs of trauma, and the cause of death is still under investigation.
- Panettiere had a history of domestic abuse allegations against Hickerson, who was arrested in 2019 and later sentenced to probation; she detailed the abuse in her memoir published shortly before her death.
- The police report noted that Brian Hickerson showed officers a bag of medication Panettiere was taking at the time, and bodycam footage from the responding officer has not been released.
- Panettiere was known for her roles on NBC’s “Heroes” and ABC’s “Nashville,” and had publicly spoken out about her experiences with domestic violence to encourage others to seek help.
