Boyfriend issues statement after actress Hayden Panettiere's death
Actress Hayden Panettiere was found dead in a South Carolina apartment at age 36, and an investigation involving police and the DEA is ongoing. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, released a brief comment through his lawyer.
Hayden Panettiere, known for roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, was pronounced dead on August 16 at a South Carolina apartment. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy found no signs of trauma, while toxicology results are expected within 12 weeks. Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating after a report indicated that Hickerson handed officers a bag of medication believed to belong to Panettiere.
Brian Hickerson, who was present with his brother when Panettiere was found unresponsive, issued his first public comment through attorney Sloan Ellis. > "Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," the statement said, adding that police had confirmed there were no signs of foul play and that no further comment would be made out of respect for her loved ones.
Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May, detailed her struggles with addiction, postpartum depression, abusive relationships and custody battles over her daughter, Kaya. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, later attributed the estrangement between them to a "toxic individual" she believed contributed to Panettiere’s death, while the actress’s father issued a brief statement requesting privacy for the family.
The cause and manner of death remain pending as authorities continue their inquiry.