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Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off partner of actress Hayden Panettiere, released a statement through his attorney Thursday addressing the 36-year-old star’s unexpected passing. Lawyer Sloan Ellis told media outlets that authorities have found no indications of criminal activity in connection with the death, which remains under active investigation.
Ellis’s statement emphasized respect for Panettiere’s family and the ongoing probe, pledging no additional remarks would be forthcoming at this stage. The Greenville Police Department confirmed it would not participate in media discussions about the case, citing standard procedure for all death investigations conducted in coordination with the Coroner’s Office.
Panettiere, known for her roles in “Nashville” and “Remember the Titans,” was discovered unresponsive in cardiac arrest at a Greenville, South Carolina apartment on Sunday and could not be revived. Preliminary autopsy findings ruled out trauma as a contributing factor to her death, while the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation as of Wednesday.
Police conducted a welfare check at a South Carolina residence linked to Hickerson and his brother Zach on Wednesday morning, though no one answered the door. A police report confirmed both brothers were present when Panettiere was found and that Hickerson provided authorities with a bag of medication the actress had allegedly been taking.
Hickerson and Panettiere maintained an intermittent relationship beginning in 2018, reconnecting after a brief 2022 separation. The couple’s involvement was marked by significant legal complications stemming from Hickerson’s 2019 domestic violence charges connected to Panettiere, which led to his 2021 conviction on two felony counts following a no-contest plea.
Three days before Panettiere’s death, Hickerson appeared in Los Angeles court seeking to reduce his felony convictions, a motion the prosecution opposed and the judge denied. Court records showed he had made a similar attempt in July 2025, which also proved unsuccessful.
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