One of Brian Hickerson’s ex-girlfriends accused him of battery years before he allegedly assaulted Hayden Panettiere in 2019.
Unearthed documents exclusively obtained by Us reveal that Hickerson, 37, had been involved in an alleged incident that allegedly turned violent with his then-partner in 2017, nearly two years before he was accused of hitting Panettiere in 2019. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office wanted to use his ex’s claims to police to show Hickerson’s alleged pattern of abuse toward women he dates, according to the filing.
The court records state that the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a possible battery call on August 13, 2017, and spoke to a woman who claimed she had been dating Hickerson for five months.
Hickerson’s ex, who Us has chosen not to name, alleged that they had a verbal argument at their residence earlier that night.
During the disagreement, she said she entered the bathroom with her cellphone to “calm down” and take a bath. Her bath was interrupted when Hickerson allegedly “entered the bathroom and accused her of sending nude photos to other men.”
The documents claim Hickerson then picked up the cellphone and “slammed it on the floor,” causing it to break. When officers spoke to Hickerson about the alleged incident, he claimed he didn’t know his girlfriend’s phone was damaged.
The woman ultimately “did not want to proceed with criminal prosecution,” and no case was filed against Hickerson in the matter. The DA, however, thought the information was relevant in its case against Hickerson for his alleged assault on Panettiere on May 2, 2019, and seemed intent on getting his ex to testify as well.
“Evidence of other acts of domestic violence should be admissible against defendant Hickerson in this case,” as stated in the docs. “The other acts are not more serious or inflammatory than the charged act.”
“The evidence is extremely probative in that it involves testimony from one other witness that has no involvement in the current case,” the documents read. The DA argued that it wouldn’t consume too much of the court’s time “since only one additional witness would be needed.”
Us reached Hickerson’s attorney, who declined to comment.
The DA also wanted to introduce another alleged act of violence against a significant other at the hands of Hickerson in their case involving Panettiere.
When police arrived at the actress’ home on May 2, 2019, after receiving calls from neighbors of a woman “screaming,” they noticed significant bruising to Panettiere’s body that she claimed happened days before while on vacation with Hickerson.
“Officers reported seeing more than 10 darker bruises throughout the victim’s arms, back and legs. When asked about these additional injuries, the victim explained the two had been in Puerto Rico a few days prior and that the defendant (Hickerson) had assaulted her, leaving numerous bruises on her body,” the court documents state.
“Both incidents help to illustrate the defendant’s propensity for violence against women he dates,” the DA argued in the motion to introduce the alleged Puerto Rico incident and the one involving his previous ex in their case against Hickerson, claiming he “lies in order to increase his chances of getting away with the crime at hand.”
The DA noted that “both incidents are fresh in the defendant’s criminal history and both incidents were provided to the defense well in advance of the trial date.”
Hickerson was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence after the alleged May 2, 2019, altercation with Panettiere, and he pleaded not guilty. The judge issued a criminal protective order, barring Hickerson from contacting the actress, but the case was dismissed without prejudice in September of that year because prosecutors “could not secure a material witness.”
Hickerson was arrested again in February 2020 after allegedly punching Panettiere in the face in Jackson, Wyoming. He was charged with domestic battery and interference with a cop, both misdemeanors, and pleaded not guilty.
His legal troubles didn’t stop there.
Hickerson was arrested in July 2020 on multiple felony charges, including four charges of corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, two charges of assault and one of intimidating a witness, Panettiere. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse/girlfriend, and the remaining six counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of formal probation, 52 domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution and a five-year protective order.
He later filed a request to reduce his past felony charges, but was denied just three days before Panettiere’s death, Us can confirm.
Panettiere died on August 16 at age 36 while staying at a South Carolina Airbnb with Hickerson. In dispatch audio obtained by People, officials in Greenville County were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death. Us learned that Hickerson provided officers with a “bag of medication” that she had been taking at the time.
Hickerson’s brother, Zach Hickerson, told TMZ that Brian had administered Narcan to Panettiere after realizing she was unconscious when she failed to wake up.
“We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life,” Zach told the outlet.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed “a parallel investigation” was initiated with the Greenville City Police Department, noting that Panettiere’s autopsy showed “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” The Drug Enforcement Agency has also joined the investigation.
Panettiere’s cause and manner of death are “pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”
On Thursday, Brian broke his silence on Panettiere’s death.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” his attorney Sloan Ellis told Us. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Panettiere’s estranged mom, Lesley Vogel, has also addressed her death, telling Good Morning America on Monday, August 24, that she had given her daughter an ultimatum after recently learning the actress was dating Brian again. Vogel has also slammed Brian, telling NBC News earlier this month that she had been “trying to get rid of [him] for quite some time.”
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.
