Police called to family home of Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, officials say

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) — Police officers were called to Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend’s family home in Greenville on Wednesday morning, city officials said.

According to the city, officers with the Greenville Police Department were at Brian Hickerson’s family home to conduct a welfare check.

Officials said the call was unrelated to Panettiere’s death investigation and did not require an incident report.

It’s unclear why a welfare check was requested at the home. Officials also did not reveal the results of the welfare check.

A previous police report showed that Hickerson and his brother were both inside the Greenville apartment where the actress was pronounced dead on Sunday. She was 36.

Complicated history with domestic violence

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Panettiere and Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship for years. The two first met in 2018.

Panettiere revealed in her recent memoir that Hickerson beat her so badly that she would not leave the house for weeks. In one case, a neighbor called police to report seeing Hickerson pin Panettiere down and repeatedly punch her.

Hickerson has faced domestic abuse charges for his relationship with Panettiere. His legal proceedings are still ongoing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Autopsy completed

Officials with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy Monday morning.

Coroner Mike Ellis confirmed Panettiere had no visible injuries or trauma, and preliminary findings have not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

An official cause and manner of death are currently pending further toxicology and testing.

Incident report details

According to the Greenville Police Department’s redacted incident report, officers and EMS personnel responded at 1:58 p.m. Sunday to the Judson Mill Lofts for a report of an unresponsive woman. First responders performed CPR, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m.

In 911 dispatch audio, first responders can be heard discussing a possible overdose.

A responding officer spoke with two men at the apartment: Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother, Zach Hickerson. The men called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive in the apartment.

The incident report notes that Zach Hickerson appeared “very emotional” while first responders worked on Panettiere, and her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, became emotional after she was declared dead. Brian Hickerson showed officers a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking.

Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit and the Coroner’s Office are investigating the death. A search warrant was executed at the apartment, and the courtesy officer at Judson Mill told police that CCTV footage showed all three people arriving and leaving the property.

Though the reason Panettiere was in Greenville is still unknown, her “Nashville” co-star Charles Esten performed at The Foundry at Judson Mill on Friday night, a venue sharing the same address as the Judson Mill Lofts where she was found. Police have not confirmed if his performance was the reason she was in town.

Recent memoir highlighted struggles

Panettiere published a memoir in May called “This is Me: A Reckoning.” In the book, she detailed her childhood, time in the limelight and struggles with alcohol, opioids and postpartum depression.

Panettiere was best known for her roles in the TV shows “Heroes” and “Nashville” as well as films such as “Ice Princess” and the “Scream” franchise.