Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, was reportedly cited for alleged drug use in court just three days before Panettiere was found unresponsive and later declared dead, according to media reports.
Hickerson's brother, Zach, stated that he administered Narcan to Panettiere after they found her unconscious at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, August 16. Panettiere was 36 years old.
Court Hearing Amid Expungement Request
Days before Panettiere's death, a court hearing took place on August 13. The hearing concerned a request filed by Hickerson on July 20 to expunge domestic violence convictions from his record. Prosecutors opposed the petition, citing alleged continuous drug use and two separate arrests in Los Angeles in 2025.
Hickerson had previously pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring Panettiere in 2021. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and four years of probation, along with fines and mandatory domestic violence classes.
During the August 13 hearing, prosecutors also referenced a TMZ interview from May in which Hickerson appeared to be under the influence. The District Attorney's office noted that Hickerson made admissions about the abuse documented in Panettiere's book during the interview.
A judge denied Hickerson's petition to expunge his record. This was not the first time he had sought to remove the convictions; a similar petition in July 2025 was also opposed by prosecutors due to "continued demonstrable drug use" and a prior arrest.
Final Moments and Investigation
Hickerson's brother, Zach, detailed the hours leading up to Panettiere's death. He stated that he, his brother, and Panettiere were planning to have lunch and go indoor golfing. After attending church, Zach attempted to contact Panettiere and Brian but received no response. He found they were asleep and later realized Panettiere was unconscious. Zach called 911 while Brian administered Narcan, and they performed CPR together until emergency services arrived.
Greenville County Sheriff's Office reported that a post-mortem examination had been completed with no signs of trauma found on Panettiere's body. Further investigations are underway to establish the cause of death.
A representative for Panettiere confirmed her death, stating that her family would remember her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her."
Panettiere's ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, paid tribute to her on what would have been her 37th birthday, sharing a photo and reflecting on her life and spirit. Panettiere and Klitschko have a daughter, Kaya, who moved to Ukraine with Klitschko in 2018 amid Panettiere's struggles with postpartum depression and addiction.