Boyfriend’s Brother Details Circumstances of Hayden Panettiere’s Death at Airbnb

The brother of Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend has released a detailed account of discovering the actress unresponsive at an Airbnb residence on August 16. Zach Hickerson told TMZ he attended church that morning and had planned to meet with his brother Brian and Panettiere for lunch and indoor golf afterward. When he could not reach them by phone, he drove to the property where the three were staying.

Hickerson said he knew the building code but not the door code to the Airbnb unit. He knocked loudly, waking his brother from a nap on a pullout couch, and discovered Panettiere was unconscious. He immediately called emergency services and administered Narcan while performing CPR with his brother until paramedics arrived.

In a separate statement, Brian Hickerson declined to provide specifics, instead deferring to the ongoing investigation and emphasizing that police found no signs of foul play. Both men expressed grief over the 36-year-old actress’s death. Zach Hickerson called her “one of my dearest and closest friends” and urged the public to allow authorities to complete their investigation before drawing conclusions.

The actress’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has publicly questioned Brian Hickerson’s influence on her daughter, describing him as a “toxic individual” in statements to Entertainment Tonight and NBC News. She revealed the Drug Enforcement Administration has been contacted to assist local authorities. Court records show Brian Hickerson faced domestic violence charges related to the couple’s relationship, resulting in a conviction.

Wladimir Klitschko, Panettiere’s former fiancé and father of their daughter, posted a tribute on Instagram honoring her memory and thanking supporters for their compassion. The Heroes and Nashville star would have turned 37 five days after her death.