Actress Hayden Panettiere filed for a protective order against her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, six years prior to her death, detailing alleged abuse in court documents. Panettiere, who was found unresponsive on Sunday in South Carolina following a suspected overdose, sought the order in 2020.
In the petition for an out-of-state restraining order, Panettiere described incidents where Hickerson allegedly "pulls my hair, swings me around and hits me, spits in my face," particularly when alcohol was involved. She also claimed he "dumped water over me while I'm in bed" and "thrown objects at my face."
These allegations surfaced in a petition filed in Teton County, Wyoming, on February 17, 2020, days after Hickerson was arrested for domestic battery on Valentine's Day at an Airbnb where the couple was staying. According to the responding officer's report, 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 fresh scrape on her hand.
Hickerson pleaded not guilty to the domestic battery charge in April 2020. Panettiere later filed for the protective order in California, where they resided, in July 2020, asking the court to uphold the Wyoming petition.
This was not the first time Hickerson faced domestic abuse allegations from Panettiere. He was first arrested in May 2019 in Los Angeles on felony domestic violence charges, to which he also pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing in July 2019 heard testimony from an LAPD officer who found Panettiere bruised and swollen after responding to an incident at their Los Angeles home on May 2, 2019. The officer testified that Panettiere reported Hickerson struck her three times on the face with an open palm, causing her nose to bleed, and later grabbed her face while on top of her.
During the preliminary hearing, Hickerson's attorney argued for mutual combat, but a judge denied the motion. The felony domestic violence case was ultimately dismissed in September 2019.
Later, Hickerson was charged with 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 was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of probation, and ordered to complete domestic violence classes.
Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," had recently discussed her struggles with alcohol addiction, depression, and her tumultuous relationship with Hickerson in her memoir, published three months before her death. She had a daughter, Kaya, with boxer Wladimir Klitschko, and had previously relinquished full custody in 2018 amid struggles with postpartum depression and substance abuse. Panettiere entered rehab in 2020 for an eight-month stint.
Hickerson was present at the South Carolina apartment when Panettiere was pronounced dead, according to a redacted police report. His brother, Zach Hickerson, also stated that Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, while Zach called 911. The Greenville County Coroner's Office has stated that Panettiere's cause of death remains under investigation, and police confirmed no signs of foul play were found.
