Brian Hickerson, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, was experiencing significant financial difficulties following his arrests on domestic violence charges. Hickerson filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, reporting assets of approximately $25,700 and liabilities around $60,000, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

At the time of the filing, Hickerson stated his monthly expenses were $1,248, with no reported income. His listed assets included a 1990 Ford Bronco valued at $3,000, an inoperable 2008 Toyota Prius worth $2,000, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle valued at $3,000, and a Chevrolet Silverado truck with an $8,000 valuation. Hickerson noted that the truck was registered in his name but belonged to his father.

His personal property included $6,250 in a checking account, an iPhone, a printer, $2,000 worth of clothing, and $100 in jewelry. Hickerson’s total debts comprised nearly $20,000 in credit card expenses and approximately $18,000 in medical bills. He reported being newly employed at a staffing company when he filed. The bankruptcy case was reportedly closed several months later.

The bankruptcy filing occurred years after Hickerson's initial domestic violence arrest related to an incident with Panettiere in May 2019. He was subsequently charged with felony domestic violence and ordered to maintain a distance of 100 yards from Panettiere and to refrain from contacting her. That case was dismissed in September 2019.

In February 2020, Hickerson was arrested again in Wyoming on Valentine's Day following a reported domestic dispute with Panettiere. In July 2020, Panettiere was granted a restraining order against him. Later that same month, Hickerson faced an eight-count indictment in Los Angeles stemming from alleged abusive incidents between May 2019 and January 2020.

In April 2021, Hickerson accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, with the remaining charges dismissed. A judge sentenced him to 45 days in county jail, four years of probation, 52 domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order.

Hickerson and Panettiere dated intermittently for four years, ultimately ending their relationship in July 2022. Panettiere was found unresponsive on August 16 of an unspecified year, with 911 call audio suggesting an overdose. She was 36 years old. Brian Hickerson's brother, Zach Hickerson, found Panettiere unresponsive; Brian Hickerson was reportedly sleeping in a different room at the time and has not publicly commented on her death.