Hayden Panettiere's Ex-Boyfriend Present at Time of Actress's Death

Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. She was 36 years old. Her ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present at the apartment complex where she was found unresponsive, according to a police report obtained by NBC News.

Authorities responded to a call for help at the residence. Upon arrival, officers found Zach Hickerson, Brian's brother, distressed while medical personnel administered advanced life support to Panettiere. The police report details that Brian Hickerson showed no visible emotion until paramedics pronounced Panettiere deceased at 2:32 p.m. following cardiac arrest. Hickerson provided officers with a bag of medications the actress was taking. The entire interaction was recorded on the officer's body camera.

While the 911 call initially reported cardiac arrest and Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was found at the scene, the official cause of death remains undetermined. An autopsy ruled out signs of violence, but toxicology tests are pending and are expected to take several weeks. The police report documented the medical response without assigning responsibility for Panettiere's death.

Hickerson's presence at the scene has drawn attention due to his past. He was convicted of domestic violence against Panettiere in 2021, though the actress later stated they had resumed a friendship after a personal process of forgiveness.