The death of actress Hayden Panettiere has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, as investigators race to piece together the final hours of her life, and a damning new report reveals that her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, allegedly pawned off her personal belongings, including a vintage guitar, in the months leading up to her tragic passing at just 36 years old.
The revelation comes from Panettiere’s own mother, Leslie Vogle, who spoke exclusively to the New York Times, detailing a deeply troubled relationship that she says she tried desperately to end. Vogle told the publication that Hickerson, who filed for bankruptcy in 2022, had taken items from her daughter’s home and sold them, leaving Panettiere shocked when she discovered the theft. The New York Times independently verified the claim through a source close to the family, adding a layer of criminal suspicion to an already volatile situation.
Panettiere was found unresponsive on August 16 at a rented Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, where she had traveled with Hickerson just a day earlier. The couple arrived on August 15, and Hickerson’s brother, Zach, was also in the area, staying at his own rental. According to a timeline provided by Zach to TMZ, the group had plans to go to lunch and play indoor golf after church on the day of her death.
When Zach returned from services, he knocked loudly on the door of the Airbnb, waking Hickerson from a nap on a pullout couch in the living room. The brothers then attempted to wake Panettiere, only to find her unconscious and not breathing.
Zach immediately called 911 at 1:51 p. m. , reporting that Panettiere was in cardiac arrest.
Dispatch audio released in the case indicates that the call was treated as an apparent overdose. While Zach spoke with emergency operators, Hickerson reportedly administered Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses, on the actress. The brothers performed CPR while on speakerphone with dispatchers, desperately trying to revive her as they waited for first responders.
Fire and EMS arrived seven minutes later, at approximately 1:58 p. m. , and took over life-saving measures.
Despite their efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p. m.
A police report cited by CNN reveals that an officer on scene interviewed both brothers. Zach told law enforcement that Panettiere was his brother’s girlfriend. Brian then handed over a bag containing nine different medications that Panettiere was taking at the time of her death, though the names of the drugs were redacted from the report.
Narcan was also found at the scene when first responders arrived. The report notes that Zach was visibly emotional while medical personnel worked on Panettiere, but Brian did not become visibly upset until she was officially declared dead.
The investigation remains active, led by the Greenville City Police Department in coordination with the 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 Enforcement Administration at the federal level. Authorities have stated that the preliminary investigation did not indicate any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and the initial autopsy found no evidence of physical trauma. However, the case is far from closed, and toxicology reports, which could take weeks or even months to complete, are expected to be pivotal in determining the exact cause of death and whether any criminal conduct occurred.
Panettiere’s mother has been vocal in her criticism of Hickerson, telling NBC News that she had been trying to get him out of her daughter’s life for years. Vogle stated, “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.” She described Panettiere as an amazingly talented person who struggled with the pressures of the entertainment industry, ultimately losing her way.
Vogle pushed back against criticism of her statements in a Good Morning America interview, saying, “I would say to the haters out there, you don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child. That’s my domain.”
The relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson has been marked by a history of domestic violence, which the actress publicly addressed in her memoir just months before her death. She wrote, “What I never told them was that the 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 I’d endured didn’t feel as bad as the thought of being alone.” Court documents reveal that Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in jail in April 2021 after pleading no contest to two felony domestic violence charges for injuring Panettiere.
That sentence came with a five-year protective order, which expired in April of this year. Hickerson later apologized, saying he was in a dark place and that it was a terrible thing he did to her.
The 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 allegations extend beyond the legal record. A neighbor of Panettiere in West Hollywood, California, named Mia Terzis, told Page Six that she saw the actress with visible bright red spots and bruises being taken out of her Los Angeles apartment on a gurney on two separate occasions in 2023 and 2024. Terzis said, “It appeared that she had been beaten up.
It wasn’t apparent to me that it could have been anything else.” She added that Panettiere often looked battered. According to TMZ, Panettiere’s homeowners association even hung up warning posters in 2025 with Hickerson’s face, urging residents to call 911 immediately if they saw him trespassing on the premises.
Terzis said she called police several times to report Hickerson at Panettiere’s home, but he allegedly kept returning.
Vogle also revealed that Panettiere and Hickerson grew closer in 2018 after she gave full custody of her daughter to her ex-fiancé, longtime heavyweight boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko. Panettiere had been struggling with postpartum depression, which spiraled into a dependence on alcohol and opioids. Vogle told Good Morning America, “I think she struggled and Brian came into her life.
She was vulnerable.” In an interview with the Daily Mail, Vogle described the relationship as deeply codependent, with drugs allegedly becoming a part of their lives. She claimed that Panettiere knew Brian was toxic but could not break free.
The New York Times reported that Panettiere had hired security to keep Hickerson away as recently as March of this year, just months before her death. Court records show that Hickerson was found in violation of his probation conditions in August 2022 after he and Panettiere were filmed in a brawl with other people outside the Sunset Marquee Hotel in West Hollywood. He was required to complete a year-long domestic violence treatment program, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and complete dozens of anger management sessions.
He attempted to reduce his felony convictions to misdemeanors in 2025, but the motion was denied. He made another attempt as recently as this month, which also failed.
Vogle told the Daily Mail that she spoke with a police officer at the scene of Panettiere’s death and asked if there would be a further investigation. She claims the officer brought up Hickerson’s name, and she told him she thought he would be culpable. She also expressed skepticism about Hickerson’s timeline of events, saying, “I don’t know how you can take a nap near someone who is dying and not realize something’s wrong.
How do you do that?” No charges have been filed in connection with Panettiere’s death, and Hickerson has not been accused of any crime related to the incident. His lawyers released a statement saying, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed as has been publicly reported.
Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
Retired detective and chief investigator Lisa Miller, who joined Law and Crime to discuss the case, emphasized that an investigation is not an accusation. She noted that Panettiere had a complicated history, including struggles with addiction and domestic violence. Miller said that investigators would be looking closely at the timeline, the medications involved, and any digital evidence, including messages on apps like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp.
She added that the presence of Narcan at the scene does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing, as it is a responsible tool for someone struggling with opioid addiction. However, Miller stressed that the toxicology results will be crucial in determining what substances were in Panettiere’s system and whether they were prescribed or obtained illicitly.
The investigation has also involved visits to the home of Hickerson’s grandmother, who lives about five miles from the Greenville Airbnb. Page Six reported that officers showed up at the home on August 19, three days after Panettiere’s death, and knocked on the door around 8:20 a. m.
They did not receive an answer, despite Zach reportedly being home at the time. Officers returned an hour and a half later and conducted a welfare check from the back of the property, leaving after about ten minutes. It has not been confirmed whether the visit was connected to the investigation.
Panettiere’s death has left a void in the entertainment world, with tributes pouring in from fans, friends, and fellow celebrities. She was known for her roles in hit shows and films like Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Heroes, and Nashville. Her vulnerability in publicly addressing her struggles with substance 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, postpartum depression, and domestic violence touched countless lives.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind her untimely death. The toxicology reports, when they arrive, will be a key piece of the puzzle, potentially shedding light on whether this was a tragic accident or something more sinister. For now, the world waits for answers, and Panettiere’s family, friends, and fans mourn the loss of a bright star gone too soon.