Before Hayden Panettiere‘s untimely death, she flew across the country with Brian Hickerson, E! News has learned.
The Nashville actress traveled with Hickerson—her on-and-off boyfriend of nearly a decade—from Los Angeles to South Carolina on Aug. 15.
E! News has attempted to reach out to Hickerson for comment and has not heard back.
Panettiere was pronounced dead Aug. 16 by Greenville officials, who responded to a call of an “unresponsive female.”
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered,” police shared in a press release obtained by E! News, “however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” authorities continued. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
Police confirmed an “acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call,” though they did not name the individual. In the 911 dispatch calls obtained by People and TMZ, an Emergency Medical Service worker reported an apparent “overdose” had taken place and CPR was “in progress.”
According to an autopsy completed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office Aug. 17, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to Panettiere’s death. The cause and manner of death, the office said, “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”
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Hayden Panettiere Suffered Apparent Overdose, Cardiac Arrest Before Being Found Unresponsive
Prior to her passing, Panettiere—who would’ve celebrated her 37th birthday on Aug. 21—had been in an on-off relationship with Hickerson, a South Carolina native, since 2018.
Throughout their time together, Hickerson faced multiple allegations of domestic violence against the Heroes alum.
In 2019, Hickerson was arrested after an alleged confrontation with Panettiere. At the time, a police spokesperson told E! News that Hickerson was detained at a Los Angeles residence and booked on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge of felony domestic violence and the case was later dismissed.
The following year, on Valentine’s Day 2020, Hickerson—a real estate agent and actor—was arrested for domestic battery in Wyoming after a physical altercation with a woman, later identified as Panettiere. Hickerson, Us Weekly confirmed, pleaded not guilty in April of that year.
Three months later, in July 2020, Hickerson was arrested in Los Angeles, with as that ranged from domestic violence and assault to witness intimidation, incidents that took place during his relationship with Panettiere
That same month, Panettiere was granted a restraining order against her ex.
In April 2021, Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in county jail. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, according to a spokesperson for the LA District Attorney’s Office. He began his sentence a month later.
After serving his time, Hickerson reunited with Panettiere in July 2021.
“Hayden and I are not back together but are working on a friendship,” he told E! News at the time. “We have a long history together, and the first step in my recovery as an abuser is making amends. That’s exactly what Hayden has been gracious enough to allow me to do.”
Panettiere also spoke out about their friendship in a 2023 profile with the New York Times.
“There are feelings there, yes,” she told the outlet, before referring his arrests. “He knows he deserved what happened to him.”
Panettiere also pointed out that their time together was “contingent on him continuing on this road of recovery,” adding, “I did not do any of this lightly.”
The pair reunited earlier this year, as Hickerson accompanied Panettiere—on crutches at the time—at Los Angeles International Airport.
“Hayden has been privately managing a temporary nerve condition, which is the reason she was seen using crutches,” her rep told E! News in March. “She is recovering well and is on the mend.”
TMZ was first to report details of their flight to South Carolina.
As family and friends continue to mourn Panettiere’s death, keep reading for all of their tributes…
David Livingston/Getty Images
“Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” Cattrall wrote on Instagram. “Gone far too soon.”
“Hayden was always such a sweetheart- so rad – down to earth, kind, and consistently the same every time I saw her,” Manning wrote. “We shared so many funny little moments over the years… I don’t really have words for what has happened and she is suddenly gone. I’m just grateful I got to know her and have memories like this.”
“Perhaps most quietly powerful, she spoke openly about what so many are taught to hide: domestic violence, postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, and abuse,” she wrote. “She did not share these things for ease or attention, but because she understood what her silence could cost others.”
She added, “Her activism was not polished or performative. It was instinctive, human, sometimes messy, often vulnerable, and always sincere. She was willing to be uncomfortable, to be misunderstood, and to speak before the world was ready to listen.”
“I just wanted to acknowledge the tremendous loss, not only for the Kingdom Hearts family, but of course all of the close loved ones and the millions of lives that Hayden reached,” they said in an Instagram video. “Sending so much love to Hayden’s family, I’ll be thinking of Hayden and the legacy that she has left. Sending lots of love to the Kingdom Hearts community too and how we’re sharing in this loss.”
“Hayden Panettiere was a beautiful talent and beautiful soul,” the Scandal alum wrote. “Sending her family my love, thoughts and prayers.”PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
“I first met Hayden when she was 16, and she was already a veteran actor with such bright spirit, and an older soul,” he wrote on Instagram. “I remember her as a fierce protector of animal rights and a ‘cheerleader’ for kindness, justice, and people being treated fairly – something that I’ve always appreciated.”
He also shared a reminder to online users, emphasizing, “Life can be so short… let’s send some love out to the world, our loved ones, and to those who need it most today.”
“I directed this video for @haydenpanettiere with @imsebastianstan,” he explained on Instagram. “When I saw her at Paris’ a couple months ago, we were cracking up over all the funny stuff we talked about between shots, pranking Klitschko in Miami, and how tiny she was. Such a sweet, tiny little bundle of joy. Your memory will always be a blessing.”
“My thoughts are with your daughter and those who truly love you,” she added. “I know that the ones that got to feel your gifts will forever feel blessed and grateful for you.”
“I’m crushed,” Bethany wrote in an Instagram post. “I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals. Long, unruly curls trailing behind her. She knew her lines and everyone else’s. Her intelligence was astonishing.”
Noting that the pair would “connect on and off over the years,” Bethany detailed feeling joy when they “were lucky enough to cross paths.”
“I dont understand how this is real,” she continued. “Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real..”
“Julius [Tennon] and I loved working with you,” Viola wrote in her Aug. 17 Instagram post, “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart. I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy.”
“You will be remembered,” the Fences star added. “Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”
Osbourne praised Panettiere as being “such a good friend.”
“I will never forget you, Hayden, and I will always believe you deserved better,” the Osbournes alum added. “Rest in peace, sweet princess. You will never be forgotten.”
“You were so special,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories alongside a clip of her podcast episode. “May you always be protected and peaceful.”
“Devastated,” she captioned a photo of the pair on Instagram. “We first met on the LIRR traveling to NYC for auditions when we were both kids. Every time our paths crossed, my heart always filled up. She was special. She was a Sprite of a being and such a talent. Truly a light…..Love you, Hayden.”
