Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of late actor Hayden Panettiere, has released his first statement following her death. Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday and could not be revived.
Hickerson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, stated that the investigation into Panettiere's death is ongoing and urged for patience. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play," Ellis said in a statement to TMZ. Police confirmed that Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present in the apartment at the time of Panettiere's death.
The police incident report indicates that Zach Hickerson informed an officer of the relationship between his brother and Panettiere. Although much of the report is redacted, it notes that "They then called 911."
The Drug Enforcement Administration has reportedly joined the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Panettiere's death.
Panettiere's estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, has spoken out about her daughter's struggles with substance abuse, partially blaming Hickerson for her death. "This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson," Vogel told NBC News.