Brian Hickerson's sister, Ashley Hickerson, stated that her brother's natural charisma was the reason Hayden Panettiere repeatedly returned to him despite their volatile relationship.
Panettiere met the real estate agent in 2018, and they dated intermittently until her death last Sunday from an apparent overdose. Brian Hickerson was present at the Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettiere died, along with his brother, Zach Hickerson. Brian had been arrested multiple times for domestic violence against Panettiere.
Ashley Hickerson told the Daily Mail that her brother is "the most charismatic person" and has a way of "draw[ing] you in." She added that Brian can make people laugh regardless of circumstances and is capable of being fun, explaining her understanding of why Panettiere was with him.
Ashley Hickerson insisted that her brother's history of abuse does not reflect his upbringing, stating, "We all have our demons. Brian was not raised that way. It wasn’t until he got into drugs that he went south."
Notes indicate Brian Hickerson had a prior record before meeting Panettiere. He was arrested in November 2010 at age 21 and charged with two counts of third-degree assault and battery by mob, alongside his father, David, and brother, Zach. Ashley Hickerson characterized the 2010 incident as a riot involving "some people" and her father's account.
She also shared that her brother acknowledged his issues and had sought treatment. "He did own up to his s–t," she said.
The Hickerson family, particularly their father, is grieving Panettiere's death, which Ashley called a "massive tragedy."
Panettiere's estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, has publicly spoken against Brian Hickerson, expressing doubts about his account of the day Panettiere died and attributing the rocky relationship between her daughter and Hickerson to him. Vogel stated that Brian Hickerson had pawned some of Panettiere's possessions before her death, including a vintage guitar, and that Panettiere was surprised to find personal items in his storage unit.
Brian Hickerson faced significant financial difficulties following his domestic violence arrests, leading him to file for bankruptcy in 2022. Brian's attorney, Sloan Ellis, stated that Panettiere's death is under investigation and that "police confirmed there were no signs of foul play."