Brian Hickerson allegedly sent Hayden Panettiere a text message stating, "Time to go to war I guess," following his February 2020 arrest for domestic battery, according to documents obtained by TMZ. The incident occurred during a stay at an Airbnb in Wyoming, where officers noted Hickerson appeared intoxicated and had been locked out of the building.

Per court documents, Hickerson sent a string of texts to the "Heroes" actress after his arrest, despite a court order prohibiting contact. In one alleged text, he wrote, "After Wyoming and LA disappears so do the videos." Another message read, "Even if i sit in a jail cell for ten years. All of the stuff that is vaulted overseas with my people will come out the second I step foot into prison. And all that does is hurt your name while simultaneously clearing my name. And at that point who actually cares?"

Authorities asserted that the texts indicated an attempt by Hickerson to intimidate Panettiere into dropping the case. One alleged message stated, "It is very simple, it is a very simple fix, between me and you, you gotta make one phone call." He also reportedly wrote, "I don’t want to go to court, for you. I will be f–king fine in court, trust me, it’s for you."

Hickerson was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended, and he received one year of probation. He has been arrested three times in connection with alleged incidents involving the actress. In July 2020, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.

In 2021, Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of formal probation, mandatory domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order. He served 33 days in jail, receiving credit for 12 days previously served.

Three days prior to Panettiere's death, a judge denied Hickerson’s request to expunge and downgrade his past felony charges to misdemeanors. The request was a repeat of a similar motion made in July 2025, which was also denied.

Hickerson and Panettiere, who began dating in 2018, had reportedly reconnected in the weeks leading up to her death on Sunday. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, stated that Hickerson was with Panettiere at the time of her death and that the family had been trying to remove him from her life for some time.