Brian Hickerson, the on-off boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, has broken his silence through his lawyer, saying her death in Greenville, South Carolina, remains under active investigation.
TL;DR
- Panettiere, 36, died in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16 after being found in cardiac arrest.
- Hickerson's attorney says the case "remains under investigation" and asked for privacy.
- Police reported no signs of foul play; an autopsy found no trauma.
- The Drug Enforcement Administration has since joined the probe, according to ABC News.
Lawyer says investigation must be allowed to proceed
Hickerson's attorney issued a brief statement to ABC News on Thursday, four days after Panettiere's death. The statement said Panettiere's death "remains under investigation" and noted that police have confirmed no signs of foul play were found.
The lawyer added that Hickerson would offer no further comment out of respect for Panettiere's family and the ongoing inquiry. According to Fox Baltimore, the statement was issued through attorney Sloan Ellis of the Ellis Hinton law firm.
What happened in Greenville
Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville on Sunday, Aug. 16, where she had been temporarily staying, according to NBC News. She was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency crews' resuscitation efforts failed.
Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were both present and called 911 after finding her, reports say. Brian Hickerson reportedly showed officers a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking, though it remains unclear if drugs or alcohol played any role in her death.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office completed an autopsy on Aug. 17 and found no signs of trauma. Officials said the case "remains active and ongoing," and the DEA has since joined local police in the investigation, according to ABC News.
Hickerson's history with Panettiere
Brian Hickerson and Panettiere were first linked in 2018 and had an on-again, off-again relationship since. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a girlfriend in 2021 following domestic violence arrests in 2019 and 2020.
Panettiere spoke publicly about the abuse in 2020, saying she hoped sharing her story would help others in similar situations. Reportedly, the couple had reconciled in recent years and were last seen together in March at Los Angeles International Airport, according to People.
Before her relationship with Hickerson, Panettiere was engaged to Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shares a daughter, Kaya.
UK fans can still watch her biggest roles
Panettiere's two best-known television roles, Heroes and Nashville, are both streaming in the UK on Netflix, though Nashville is due to leave the service on Sept. 15, 2026, according to Parade.
Netflix UK pricing
| Plan | Monthly price |
| Standard with Ads | £5.99 |
| Standard | £12.99 |
| Premium | £18.99 |
Source: Netflix UK bundle guide, Choose.co.uk
Related coverage
Screen & Story has followed other high-profile Hollywood deaths this year, including the investigation into NBA star Brandon Clarke's cause of death and the passing of Jorge Messi, father of footballer Lionel Messi.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed Aug. 21, 2026.
