Actress Hayden Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina, after traveling from Los Angeles. Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in an Airbnb at the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex on Sunday afternoon.
According to reports, Panettiere took a flight from Los Angeles to South Carolina on Saturday, accompanied by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. The pair reportedly stayed at the Airbnb, though sources also indicated that Hickerson and his brother may have been living there. A neighbor told Page Six that Panettiere appeared to remain inside the apartment during her time there and that they never saw her leave.
Emergency services were dispatched to the apartment at approximately 1:51 p.m. on Sunday following a 911 call reporting an unidentified female in cardiac arrest. Dispatch audio revealed that responders were treating the situation as an overdose, with CPR in progress. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m.
The Greenville Police Department confirmed that preliminary investigations have not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The case is being investigated in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. A spokesperson stated that an acquaintance of Panettiere placed the 911 call.
Law enforcement remained at the property for several hours after Panettiere's death. A neighbor observed two men appearing to be in shock outside the apartment, speaking with police. The coroner's vehicle arrived later that evening. Residents of the complex were reportedly informed by property managers that the incident was not criminal.
Panettiere had publicly spoken about her struggles with depression and addiction. Her relationship with Brian Hickerson, which began in 2018, was marked by alleged incidents of abuse. Panettiere detailed some of these experiences in her 2026 memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." Hickerson admitted to abusive behavior towards her in May 2026.