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Hayden Panettiere’s troubled relationship with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson had one final, unexpected chapter on Aug. 16.
Hickerson, who had an on-again, off-again relationship with Panettiere in the years before her death at 36, was among those at the South Carolina apartment when she was found unresponsive, according to the police report.
His presence there marked a striking final chapter in a relationship that had previously led to domestic violence charges and his eventual conviction.
Hickerson and his brother had called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive, according to the report. Authorities spoke to both Hickerson and his brother, Zach, and executed a search warrant at the home.
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The police report, obtained by Fox Carolina, claimed Zach appeared “very emotional” while paramedics worked to revive Panettiere. Meanwhile, Hickerson did not become emotional until the “Ice Princess” star was declared deceased.
Officers were also given a bag of medication Panettiere had allegedly been taking by Hickerson.
Panettiere had an on-again, off-again relationship with Hickerson in the years before her death at 36. Panettiere and Hickerson reportedly met through mutual friends in 2018 shortly after her split from Wladimir Klitschko. Hickerson, who is from South Carolina, worked in real estate before pursuing acting and had a small role in the 2017 thriller “M.F.A.”
Hickerson reportedly traveled with the “Remember the Titans” actress from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment complex on Aug. 16, according to TMZ. The two broke up briefly in 2022, but rekindled their romance the following year. It’s unclear what the status of their relationship was at the time of Panettiere’s death.
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The former couple’s relationship was marked by highly public legal troubles. Hickerson was first charged with domestic violence in connection to Panettiere in 2019. He was arrested again in 2020 on eight felony domestic violence charges, including felony charges of corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of battery on a spouse/cohabitant.
In 2021, he was sentenced after pleading no contest to two felony charges connected to the domestic violence involving Panettiere. The rest were dismissed due to the plea agreement.
Panettiere publicly addressed the allegations following Hickerson’s arrest, saying she hoped sharing her story would help others in abusive relationships.
“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said in a statement, according to People magazine. “I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.”
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Three days before Panettiere’s death, Hickerson appeared in Los Angeles court in an effort to have his felony charges reduced.
“On Aug. 13, the prosecution objected to the defense’s motion to expunge and reduce both counts,” a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital. “The court denied both.”
Hickerson had tried to have the charges reduced once before, appearing in court on July 18, 2025, Fox News Digital confirmed.
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