A new police report shines a new light on who discovered Hayden Panettiere during the final moments of her life.
According to a Greenville City Police Department incident report obtained by WYFF, officials spoke with Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, on the day of her passing.
“After EMS officially declared Hayden deceased, I escorted Zach and Brian out of the apartment,” the police report stated about the events that took place on Sunday, August 16. “I observed Zach to be very emotional while EMS were working on Hayden. Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased.”
While speaking to an officer on the scene, Zach said the actress “was his brother’s girlfriend.”
According to the report, Brian provided a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was “currently on,” per the redacted report.
The police report indicated that police executed a search warrant and there is CCTV footage of all three individuals coming and going from the apartment.
The report also confirmed that multiple medics performed life-saving measures on the unresponsive actress for “an extended amount of time” before she was pronounced dead.
News broke on Sunday that Panettiere had died at the age of 36. Her official cause of death has yet to be revealed.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip, said in a statement to Us. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
Before the incident report was released, one neighbor described seeing two men outside of the apartment on Sunday sitting on the floor in the hallway and looking “in complete shock.”
“Their heads [were] down and hats on. They were not talking,” the resident exclusively told Us. “I have no idea what role they played, if any. The authorities were there. There were one or two officers guarding the apartment door.” (Nobody has been charged with a crime in regards to Panettiere’s death.)
Authorities in South Carolina confirmed to Us on Monday, August 17 that police responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence, later identified as Panettiere.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office also revealed to Us on Monday that an autopsy report has been completed and no signs of trauma were discovered that could have contributed to the actress’ death.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. “First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”
As fans wait for more details about what led to Panettiere’s death, a source who recently spoke with the Nashville actress told Us that friends were “worried” about the actress after she reconnected with her abusive ex.
“Hayden seemed to be doing well [recently], but there was still concern among her friends and inner circle, especially because she started spending time with Brian again,” a source explained to Us. “That relationship and association had led her down a dark path in the past, so her friends and inner circle were worried for her. There were concerns and her friends really hoped she was doing OK.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
