Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend at apartment where she died, police say

Key Points:

• Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive and later declared dead at a South Carolina apartment where her boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were present; no cause of death or foul play has been determined yet.
• Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, had a history of felony abuse charges related to her, pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a partner, served jail time, and was recently denied a request to reduce his conviction to misdemeanors.
• Panettiere openly discussed her struggles with addiction, mental health, and a tumultuous relationship in her memoir "This Is Me," including her hopes for Hickerson’s rehabilitation during his incarceration.
• The police report is heavily redacted, including details of Brian Hickerson’s interview and a list of medications Panettiere was taking; paramedics found no obvious physical trauma at the scene.
• Panettiere, a former child star known for roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” faced ongoing personal challenges including postpartum depression, addiction, family estrangement, and the recent death of her brother.