Actress Hayden Panettiere, who died in late July 2024, had sought a protective order against her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, in 2020, detailing alleged abuse in a court petition. The filing, obtained by the Daily Mail, described incidents where Hickerson allegedly "pulls my hair, swings me around and hits me, spits in my face," particularly when alcohol was involved.
Panettiere, 36, also claimed in the document that Hickerson, 37, had "dumped water over me while I'm in bed" and "thrown objects at my face." The petition for a temporary order of protection was initially filed in Wyoming in February 2020, days after Hickerson was arrested for domestic battery. A police report from that incident stated Hickerson "started throwing Panettiere around" and "struck Panettiere with a closed fist on the right side of her face," leaving her face red and swollen with a scrape on her hand.
Hickerson pleaded not guilty to the Wyoming charge. Panettiere later filed for an out-of-state protective order in California, where they resided, in July 2020.
This was not the first instance of legal action related to their relationship. Hickerson was first arrested in May 2019 in Los Angeles on felony domestic violence charges. An officer responding to an incident at their home reported finding Panettiere bruised and swollen, with marks on her neck. She told the officer that Hickerson had allegedly struck her and grabbed her face, causing her nose to bleed. Panettiere also claimed Hickerson had harmed her in Puerto Rico the day prior, resulting in bruises on her arms.
Hickerson's attorney argued for mutual combat, but the judge denied a motion to dismiss. The case was eventually dismissed in September 2020. Hickerson later faced seven felony counts, including assault and injuring a girlfriend, and misdemeanor battery. In April 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring Panettiere and received a sentence of 45 days in jail, four years of probation, fines, and domestic violence classes.
Panettiere was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment and pronounced dead following a suspected overdose. The Greenville County Coroner's Office is investigating the cause of death. A redacted police report indicated Hickerson was present at the apartment when she was pronounced dead. His brother, Zach Hickerson, claimed he called 911 while Brian Hickerson administered Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses. A "bag of medication" Panettiere was taking was allegedly shown to police by Hickerson.
Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," had spoken openly about her struggles with alcohol addiction, depression, and her tumultuous relationship with Hickerson in her memoir, published months before her death. She had a daughter, Kaya, with boxer Wladimir Klitschko, and had previously relinquished full custody in 2018 due to her struggles with postpartum depression and substance abuse. She entered a treatment center in 2020 for an eight-month rehab stay, describing her sobriety as an "everyday battle" in a 2023 interview.
Hickerson's attorney stated that police confirmed no signs of foul play and that no further comment would be made out of respect for Panettiere's loved ones and the ongoing investigation.