Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson releases statement following her death

Key Points:

• Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off partner, released his first public statement via his attorney, emphasizing that the investigation into Panettiere's death is ongoing and requesting respect for her loved ones by withholding further comments.
• Police reports reveal that Hickerson and his brother were present at the South Carolina apartment where Panettiere was found unresponsive; paramedics performed CPR but she was declared dead at the scene, with no signs of trauma or foul play detected.
• Panettiere and Hickerson had a tumultuous relationship marked by a domestic violence case in which Hickerson pleaded no contest to felony charges and served jail time; Panettiere had publicly spoken out about the abuse and expressed a desire for him to change.
• Panettiere's estranged mother described Hickerson as a negative influence the family tried to remove and reflected on the challenges Hayden faced in the entertainment industry, expressing hope that Hayden is now at peace with her late brother.
• Officials discussed a possible overdose and cardiac arrest at the time of Panettiere's death, but the coroner's office stated the investigation remains active with no further details released, and no signs of foul play have been found.