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The Hayden Panettiere death investigation remains open after the actress died in Greenville, South Carolina. A police report confirms that her former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was at the apartment during the emergency response.
Panettiere, known for “Heroes,” “Nashville” and the “Scream” franchise, died Aug. 16. She was 36.
Ex-boyfriend identified in police report
Hickerson and his brother were inside the apartment when police and emergency medical personnel arrived. The report identifies Hickerson as the person who called 911.
Officers responded to the Judson Mill Lofts on Easley Bridge Road at approximately 1:51 p.m. The emergency call concerned an unresponsive woman experiencing cardiac arrest.
A responding officer documented the behavior of the two men during the emergency. According to the report, they initially appeared to show little emotion. Hickerson became visibly upset after officials confirmed Panettiere’s death.
Those observations do not establish criminal involvement. Police have not identified Hickerson or anyone else as a suspect.
Hayden Panettiere death investigation continues
Officers found Panettiere unresponsive inside a bedroom. Emergency personnel performed advanced cardiac life support measures but could not revive her.
Authorities pronounced Panettiere dead at 2:32 p.m.
The police report also documents naloxone inside the apartment. Naloxone, widely known by the brand name Narcan, can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.
However, the presence of naloxone does not determine what caused Panettiere’s death. Officials have not confirmed whether anyone administered it before first responders arrived.
Emergency dispatch communications included references to an overdose and cardiac arrest. Those initial descriptions also do not represent a final medical finding.
Cardiac arrest means the heart stopped beating. Several medical conditions, injuries or substances can lead to cardiac arrest.
No signs of trauma or foul play
Police said the preliminary investigation found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Investigators also reported no visible signs of trauma that contributed to Panettiere’s death.
An autopsy has been completed. However, the official cause and manner of death remain pending.
Investigators are awaiting toxicology results and other medical findings. Toxicology testing can identify alcohol, medications or other substances in a person’s system.
The testing process may take several weeks or longer. Until officials release those results, reports identifying a specific cause remain unconfirmed.
Panettiere and Hickerson had a documented history
Panettiere began dating Hickerson in 2018. Their relationship later became the subject of multiple law enforcement cases involving domestic violence.
In 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts involving injuries to Panettiere. A court sentenced him to jail and probation.
Panettiere later reconnected with Hickerson. She discussed the relationship and the abuse she experienced in her 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”
That history provides context but does not establish a connection to her death. Police have reported no current evidence of foul play.
Officials await final findings
Panettiere began acting as a child before gaining widespread recognition as Claire Bennet in “Heroes.” She later earned two Golden Globe nominations for portraying Juliette Barnes on “Nashville.”
Her other credits included “Remember the Titans,” “Scream 4,” “Scream VI” and the video game “Until Dawn.”
The Hayden Panettiere death investigation remains active. A definitive explanation will depend on the coroner’s final report, toxicology results and any additional findings released by investigators.
