Show summary Hide summary
- How the reunion unfolded and the trip east
- History of allegations, charges and court outcomes
- Emergency response at the Airbnb and official findings so far
- What Panettiere shared about abuse, addiction and recovery
- Statements, family reactions and those she leaves behind
- Resources and support for those affected
Hayden Panettiere had quietly reunited with Brian Hickerson roughly two weeks before she was found dead at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, sources tell Page Six. The pair, whose relationship had a troubled public history, reportedly spent time together in Los Angeles before boarding a flight east, touching off renewed scrutiny after the actress’s sudden passing.
How the reunion unfolded and the trip east
Liz Cho alimony battle: inside her explosive split from Josh Elliott
Air Canada Aeroplan card overhauled by Chase: new perks, higher annual fee
Insiders say Panettiere and Hickerson saw each other in Los Angeles for about a week. What began as a brief visit did not end when Hickerson planned to leave.
- Both flew to South Carolina, where Hickerson has family ties.
- Some friends were unaware the pair were back in contact.
- Recent paparazzi images showed them together at an LA airport in March, when Panettiere used crutches.
Sources describe their renewed contact as mostly framed by Hickerson as friendship. Yet Panettiere did not widely discuss the reconnection with close friends, according to people in her circle.
History of allegations, charges and court outcomes
Their relationship, which began around 2018, was followed by repeated legal incidents that placed Hickerson in the spotlight.
- May 2019: Hickerson was arrested in Hollywood on a felony domestic violence charge; the case was later dismissed.
- Late 2019–early 2020: Los Angeles prosecutors alleged additional incidents that could have caused injury.
- Feb. 14, 2020: Arrest in Jackson, Wyoming, after an alleged assault; charges included domestic battery and witness intimidation.
- July 2020: An eight-count indictment in LA listed multiple felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness.
- April 2021: Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts related to injuring a spouse or cohabitant; other counts were dismissed.
- Sentence included 45 days in jail, four years’ probation, mandated counseling and a five-year protective order.
Three days before Panettiere’s death, a judge denied Hickerson’s bid to clear or reduce those felony records.
Emergency response at the Airbnb and official findings so far
First responders arrived at the Greenville rental after a call reporting an unresponsive woman in apparent cardiac arrest. Medical crews provided advanced life support, but Panettiere was pronounced dead shortly after 2:30 p.m.
- Brian Hickerson and his brother, identified as Zach, were at the scene.
- Zach reportedly referred to Panettiere as his “brother’s girlfriend.”
- Officers noted a bag of medication that Hickerson showed them; names were redacted in the report.
- Narcan — used to reverse opioid overdoses — was found inside the Airbnb.
The coroner’s initial autopsy found no signs of trauma that would have caused death. Toxicology testing is pending, and authorities describe the probe as active and ongoing. Early reports did not point to obvious foul play.
What Panettiere shared about abuse, addiction and recovery
Panettiere had been vocal about her personal struggles for years. In interviews and a recently released memoir, she discussed cycles of abuse, substance problems and postpartum depression.
She explained that abusive partners would sometimes return sober and remorseful, leaving her torn between leaving and giving forgiveness. That pattern, she said, repeatedly drew her back into relationships she later regretted.
In public comments and writing, she acknowledged fears about being alone and a desire to help partners change — dynamics that can trap survivors in recurring patterns of harm.
Statements, family reactions and those she leaves behind
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whose father is former fiancé and boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, has publicly expressed concern about Panettiere’s past relationship with Hickerson and said he was with her daughter at the time of death.
Representatives for Hickerson and Panettiere did not respond to requests for comment.
Resources and support for those affected
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
For substance use and mental health support, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
