Actor Hayden Panettiere was found dead Sunday afternoon at an apartment in South Carolina, according to a police report released Tuesday. Officers and paramedics responded to the residence where they found Panettiere unresponsive; she was officially declared deceased at 2:31 p.m. after lifesaving measures were unsuccessful.
The Greenville police report noted that no obvious physical causes for her condition were visible, and an autopsy subsequently found no signs of trauma. Authorities stated there were no signs of foul play, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation. Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," would have turned 37 this coming Friday.
According to the police report, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the apartment when authorities arrived. The responding officer reported that Zach Hickerson appeared emotional while paramedics worked, while Brian Hickerson became emotional after the death was declared. A conversation between the officer and Brian Hickerson, as well as a list of medications Panettiere had been taking, were redacted in the released report.
Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had a documented history of domestic issues. Hickerson was charged in 2020 with felony abuse and pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner. He served jail time and was sentenced to four years of probation, which he completed. On Thursday, a Los Angeles judge denied Hickerson's request to have his felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors.
The scale of the situation involves the legal history of Brian Hickerson, who was under a four-year probation sentence following his 2020 conviction for domestic abuse. The impact of the actor's personal struggles was previously quantified by her entry into rehabilitation in 2015 and the relocation of her daughter to Ukraine in 2016 to live with her father, Wladimir Klitschko. Fans and the entertainment industry will notice the absence of a performer who earned two Golden Globe nominations and three Teen Choice Awards over a career spanning three decades.
The investigation into the cause of death is ongoing, and the results of toxicology reports or further forensic analysis have not yet been released. While no signs of trauma were found during the autopsy, the specific medical reason for the 36-year-old’s death remains unknown to the public. Further updates are expected as the Greenville police conclude their investigation and the coroner's office releases final findings. As of Tuesday, no charges have been filed in connection with her death.