Panettieres

HAYDEN Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson reportedly pawned the actress’ prized possessions before her sudden death.

All eyes have been on Brian, who had a tumultuous on-off relationship with Hayden since 2018, after her shocking passing last week from a suspected drug overdose.

Brian was reportedly on the scene with his brother, Zach, who called police after finding Hayden unresponsive in the Greenville, South Carolina Airbnb they shared.

Paramedics were unable to revive the Heroes star, who was in cardiac arrest, and she was pronounced dead.

An investigation is now underway into what exactly caused the 36-year-old’s death, despite nothing at the scene indicating foul play.

However, mourning fans and Hayden’s mother, Lesley Vogel, 70, have since placed blame on Brian for contributing to the Remember the Titans star’s downward spiral with drugs, alcohol, grief, and depression.

SAFETY FEARS

Hayden Panettiere ‘hired security to keep Brian away from her’ in last months

More details have also been unveiled, further painting Brian, 37, in a bad light, such as his suspicious behavior in the months before Hayden’s death.

In a sit-down with The New York Times, Lesley claimed Brian pawned several of Hayden’s belongings, including a vintage guitar.

Lesley said she was “alarmed” upon learning what Brian did, and Hayden was “shocked” when she discovered some of the items in his storage unit.

An anonymous source confirmed to the outlet that Brian, who faced money troubles and filed for bankruptcy in 2022, pawned some of Hayden’s personal items.

The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that he had been staying with Hayden in her Los Angeles condo over the past two years.

Hayden’s neighbors were increasingly concerned for the former child star and were reportedly warned last year by the Homeowner’s Association to call 911 if they spotted Brian on the property.

Apparently, Hayden’s inner circle was just as worried and went through great lengths to keep Brian away from her.

The NY Times article also revealed that Hayden reportedly hired a private security team during her book tour this past spring to keep her distance from Brian.

Sources claimed to the outlet that staffers at a Barnes & Noble in New York City, where Hayden stopped on her tour, were instructed not to let Brian into the store while the actress was there.

Hayden also reportedly said that same month that she required “an incredible amount of support and backup in order to make sure that there was no way for [Brian] to find his way back in.”

Police reportedly claimed that Brian wasn’t initially emotional when they first arrived on scene to find her slumped over in a chair on the afternoon of August 16.

Hayden’s mother, Lesley, has repeatedly slammed him to the press and said that he was the reason for her estrangement from her daughter.

Brian spoke out through his attorney, four days after Hayden’s death, in a statement, which read, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.

“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.”

HAYDEN Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson has broken his silence on the actress’ sudden death from a suspected overdose.

The Nashville star died on Sunday afternoon at her South Carolina Airbnb, where she was staying with Brian and his brother Zach Hickerson.

An investigation is currently ongoing into what led to the 36-year-old’s death, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the team.

Brian, 37, has spoken out for the first time since the incident through his attorney, Sloan Ellis, from the Ellis Hinton law firm.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Brian’s attorney told The U.S. Sun on Thursday.

“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”

SECRET STRUGGLE

Hayden got ‘nitrous oxide & booze’ delivered to hotel 3 months before death

The statement concluded, “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

Brian was spotted on Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina, close to where Hayden died, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a hoodie.

He’d been keeping a low profile since his brother discovered Hayden unconscious in a chair in the living room, where she was later declared dead, per a police report obtained by The U.S. Sun.

Police said that while Zach was very emotional upon the discovery, Brian apparently didn’t shed a tear until Hayden was officially declared dead.

Brian also told cops that the Remember the Titans star regularly took a “bag of medication.”

All eyes have since been on Brian’s family, as more questions surface about Hayden’s unexpected passing.

Hayden’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, slammed Brian in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, saying, “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.”

It wasn’t a secret that Hayden and Brian had a tumultuous, years-long relationship since meeting in 2018.

Brian was arrested for domestic violence and served 45 days in jail in 2021 for hitting Hayden with a closed fist.

He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring the former child star.

However, they appeared to have reconciled as Brian has been staying with Hayden in her Los Angeles apartment for the last two years, The U.S. Sun exclusively reported.

The Heroes star’s neighbors have also raised alarm about the pair’s relationship and were even warned by the Homeowner’s Association to call the police if they saw Brian on the property last August.

Hayden’s neighbor, Mia Terrazzas, claimed to Inside Edition that notices were distributed on the property urging residents to be wary of Brian.

Mia also said she herself even called 911 numerous times over disturbances involving Brian inside Hayden’s unit.

Hayden’s history with addiction is also of great concern, as sources claimed she sought out whippets and booze just months earlier at a Nashville hotel, despite her efforts to get clean.

HAYDEN Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson has been spotted for the first time since her shocking death.

Brian, 37, looked solemn as he stepped out on Wednesday in a hat, sunglasses and hoodie in his native Greenville, South Carolina – close to where his on-off girlfriend Hayden died on Sunday at just 36.

Brian has been keeping a low profile in recent days, and has not made a public statement since her death.

Brian and his brother Zach were at the Greenville rental apartment when Hayden was discovered unresponsive in a “possible overdose” on Sunday afternoon.

In a police report obtained by The U.S. Sun, cops said Zach walked into the apartment after 1 pm to find Hayden unconscious on a chair in the living room.

Brian was apparently asleep in another room at the time of the horrific discovery.

One of the brothers called 911, and an emergency medical team rushed to the scene.

While police said Zach was extremely emotional as the first responders attempted to save her life, Brian apparently did not shed a tear until Hayden was officially declared dead an hour later.

Brian told cops Hayden regularly took a “bag of medication,” and a long list of redacted prescription names were included in the police report.

Now, the tragedy’s fall-out is unfolding for Brian and his family.

Police arrived to Brian’s grandmother’s home on Wednesday morning.

“Greenville Police officers responded to a call for a welfare check at a home belonging to Brian Hickerson’s family on Wednesday morning,” police told The U.S. Sun in a statement.

“The call is unrelated to the Hayden Panettiere death investigation and did not require an incident report.”

But TMZ reported earlier on Wednesday that a criminal investigation has been launched into the death.

According to the outlet, the investigation was triggered because Hayden’s death was “unexpected.”

Hayden and Brian have a long, tumultuous history since first meeting in 2018.

In May 2019, Brian was arrested for domestic violence.

According to the LAPD, cops were called to Hayden’s Los Angeles home after a heated altercation on May 2 at 2:30 am.

“Right off the bat, I noticed that she had bruising on her eyelids, a swollen face. She did have marks on her neck, the left side. When I continued to talk to her she removed the sweater that she had on. I saw bruising on both her arms,” the responding officer said.

The case was ultimately dismissed.

But on Valentine’s Day 2020, Brian was arrested again for domestic violence while the pair was vacationing in Wyoming.

Hayden told officers he threw her and then punched her in the face.

Soon after this arrest, Hayden released a statement to fans.

“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said.

“I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.”

Brian ultimately was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

Despite her harsh words, the couple was spotted back together again in 2021, with Hayden insisting she “forgave” him.

Three months before her death, Hayden said she was happy and healthy, and it was reported Brian was in her rear-view mirror.

A source told TMZ the pair was secretly together during this time.

HAYDEN Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was by her side when the star died – and showed police a “bag of medication”.

Brian Hickerson did not become visibly emotional until EMS declared the 36-year-old actress dead, according to a heavily redacted report released by Greenville Police.

He was at the rented Airbnb apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where the beloved Nashville and Heroes star was found “unresponsive” on Sunday, according to police bodycam footage that is yet to be released to the public.

Brian showed officers the medication that Hayden was taking at the time of her death, NBC News reported.

His brother, Zach, also witnessed her death, and was “very emotional” as emergency medical services professionals were “working on Hayden.”

Responding officer Matthew Bryan said he first spoke with Zach at the scene.

TOXIC ROMANCE

Hayden Panettiere’s dark relationship with Brian Hickerson before her death

FINAL HOURS

Hayden Panettiere investigation ‘ongoing’ as autopsy shows ‘no signs of trauma’

According to TMZ, Zach actually first discovered Hayden sitting in a chair in the living room when he entered the home on Sunday afternoon.

Brian had been asleep in a separate room at the time, the outlet reported.

Hayden, who struggled with opioid and alcohol addiction, was described by the 911 dispatchers as suffering from a cardiac arrest and suspected overdose.

Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, was discovered on the mattress of the apartment where she was staying, TMZ reported.

Authorities have not determined that an overdose caused Hayden’s death, and the coroner’s findings remain pending.

An autopsy was completed on Monday, and officials said that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”

First responders initiated cardiac life support measures when they arrived at the scene, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, the statement added.

Hayden’s relationship with Brian was highly volatile, spanning from 2018 until her death, and involved multiple domestic violence arrests, jail time and a rumoured secret reconciliation recently.

The pair began dating in 2018, sparking controversy almost immediately.

Her family and friends were “deeply concerned,” a source told Radar Online in November 2018.

“They do not approve. They are hoping that this is something that she is going to evolve from,” the source said.

The two stayed together, and things went from bad to worse.

Brian was arrested twice – once in 2019 and then in 2020 – for domestic violence.

In May 2019, Brian was arrested for domestic violence after an incident at the actress’ Hollywood home.

Soon after the second incident, Hayden released a statement to her fans about his past arrests.

“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said.

“I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.

“I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.”

Hayden and Brian kept a low profile during the final years of her life. He was spotted attending her brother Jansen’s funeral by her side in 2023.

He was also seen helping her through a Los Angeles airport while she hobbled on crutches in March of this year.

When the actress released her memoir earlier this year, it was reported that they had split long ago.

But according to TMZ, the couple was fully together and hiding the romance.

“Hayden’s team felt Brian was bad for business,” a source told the outlet.

HAYDEN Panettiere’s estranged mother has broken her silence after the actress’s sudden death at 36.

The Nashville star was found dead in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday afternoon from a suspected overdose.

Lesley Vogel spoke out about her daughter’s death and Hayden’s rekindled relationship with her ex, Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly at the scene when she died.

“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Lesley told NBC News on Tuesday.

“I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle, and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path,” she added.

Lesley also told the outlet, “I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”

“I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace,” she said, speaking of Hayden’s younger brother Jansen, who died at 28 in February 2023 from an enlarged heart and aortic valve complications.

Hayden confirmed in May that she had not been in contact with her mother for some time.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a relationship right now,” the Heroes star told Us Weekly while promoting the release of her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

“But that doesn’t mean that I don’t leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day. It’s hard for me to say, but I’ve chosen to be brutally honest.”

Hayden also discussed her difficult relationship with her mother during a sit-down with Jay Shetty on his podcast.

“Everything was business,” the former child star said earlier this year.

“I became the confidant and the assistant and the therapist and the shoulder to cry on and everything but her child.

“I said to her, ’I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom.’

“I remember being hopeful. But I also wasn’t expecting the reaction that I got, which was, ‘You owe me.’ And that’s all she said. And she walked out.”

Lesley previously addressed the estrangement, claiming it was her choice to distance herself from her daughter.

“After 20 years of trauma, I took the advice of professionals and chose the no-contact route,” Lesley told Page Six after the release of Hayden’s memoir.

“As many parents of entertainment children [know], we are all too familiar with the painful observation of watching the self-destructive paths they sometimes choose.

“No parent hopes for this scenario; we want our children to be the best of themselves and live a peaceful, joyful life!”

Hayden had been spending more time with her off-again, on-again boyfriend, Brian, who was reportedly staying with her at the time of her death.

According to TMZ, the couple were back together but hiding their romance since Hayden’s team found their relationship “bad for business.”

Hayden had opened up about their previous split in her memoir and her other struggles, like addiction, grieving her brother’s unexpected death, as well as her severe postpartum depression.

The Remember the Titans star’s mental health battles led to her giving custody of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Hayden reportedly planned to reunite with Kaya, who lives with her father in Ukraine, before her tragic death.

HAYDEN Panettiere’s Nashville mum said the star’s “inner demons were too much to bear” as she broke her silence with a poignant tribute.

The beloved Heroes and Nashville actress was found “unresponsive” at a luxury Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday.

Sylvia Jefferies, 57, who featured as Jolene Barnes, the mum of Hayden’s character Juliette, said her heart was “shattered” by the news.

In a post shared on social media she wrote: “I’ve had to take the day to let the idea that Hayden is not with us, wash over me. 

It comes as…

• Tributes have been paid by Hollywood celebrities including Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair and Sister Sister star Tia Mowry
• In a heartbreaking final interview Hayden opened up about her struggles but declared: ‘I have a lot more life left to live’
• Hayden’s tragic final post shows the actress smiling with close pal as she hailed ‘good times and good friends’
• The star told fans to ‘be brave’in her last public appearance while promoting her new memoir

FINAL HOURS

Hayden Panettiere investigation ‘ongoing’ as autopsy shows ‘no signs of trauma’

DAD’S PAIN

Hayden Panettiere planned to visit daughter after revealing ‘incredible bond’

“At times, Hayden was not easy to be around. I remember calling her a downright tornado. But she was our tornado.

“The sun that appears, the light mist that begins, the rain that gets heavier, the swirling of everything around her, and then the gentle tapering rain returns, along with the calm and sun and light in her eyes, and the giggle in her voice.

“She had an incredibly bright future ahead of her, although her inner demons were at times too much to bear.”

Hayden, who struggled with opioid and alcohol addiction, was described by 911 dispatchers as suffering from a cardiac arrest and suspected overdose.

Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, was found on the mattress of the apartment where she was staying, TMZ reported.

Authorities have not determined that an overdose caused Hayden’s death, and the coroner’s findings remain pending.

Sylvia’s moving tribute was posted alongside pictures of the pair on set as well as messages from Hayden that addressed her as “mama”.

She said the pair reconnected after she read Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning and had “plans to see each other”.

“I was so proud of her for sharing the real Hayden, something that had to be excruciatingly painful for such a gentle soul”, Sylvia added.

The book, released in May 2026, chronicled her battles with addiction and mental health, as well as abuse, family loss and her long road to recovery.

“You are engaged in a cycle of growth until the moment you take your last breath”, she wrote, in a passage that has a haunting new meaning after her death.

Hayden was travelling with on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson over the weekend, US media has been reporting.

The pair had been spotted flying out of Los Angeles on Saturday.

They had a tumultuous relationship from 2018 to 2020 before Hickerson was arrested, convicted and jailed for domestic abuse against the actress.

He served only one day of a 45-day jail term and the couple reconnected in 2021 before reportedly getting into another physical spat at a bar in West Hollywood.

In March earlier this year the pair were snapped on their way through LAX.

Hayden reportedly kept some of her friends “in the dark” about reconnecting with Hickerson before her sudden death.

“If Brian was back in her life, then it was something she was hiding because she wasn’t speaking about it with many of her friends,” a source told Page Six.

“If you’ve gone through some dark times with people, and spoken about it, then there can be shame if you get back together with that same person,” the insider said.

The star’s heartbroken dad Skip Panettiere was the first to confirm the heartbreaking news.

He said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

“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 on screen.”

Hayden’s devastating death means Skip’s two children have both died within three years of each other, after Hayden’s brother Jansen died at the age of 28 from “an enlarged heart” in 2023.

THE tragic last post of Hayden Panettiere paid tribute to “good times and good friends” just weeks before she passed away aged 36.

The Heroes and Nashville actress died on Sunday, her father said this morning.

Hayden’s final Instagram post was made on July 27, only 21 days ago, as she smiled alongside photographer pal Randall Slavin.

The carefree and happy snap shows the pair smiling at each other as Panettiere winks playfully at the camera.

In a caption accompanying the snap, which appears to be from a busy event, the Scream star wrote: “Good times and good friends.”

The post has 40,000 likes from Hayden’s one million followers.

Responding to his friend’s death, Slavin, 56, shared the photo on his own Instagram page.

He wrote alongside the black-and-white snap: “Peace be with you, H”.

Other fans flocked to her social media pages to leave their own tributes.
One said: “Rip to the most beautiful soul ever.”

Another wrote: “This just brought me intense sadness.

“I’ve followed your work since I was a little girl, and have been following you for years because you seem like such a wonderful person who deserves so much better in life.”

Sources told TMZ that the mother-of-one had complained of back pain in the months before her death on Sunday.

Hayden’s father, Skip, confirmed the tragic news.

In a statement, he said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

“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.”

He asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss”.

The star’s family did not give a cause or location of death, however TMZ reported both Panettiere and boyfriend Brian Hickerson had flown out of Los Angeles on Saturday.

The website also reported that police responded to an “incident” and that an investigation is ongoing.