A neighbor of the late actress Hayden Panettiere has come forward with claims that Panettiere was removed from her Los Angeles apartment on a gurney twice while she was living with Brian Hickerson. The neighbor, Mia Terrazas, stated that she observed the incidents on July 29, 2023, and January 16, 2024.
According to Terrazas, she saw what appeared to be "bright red spots" and "bruises" on Panettiere during both occasions. She also reported that Hickerson was present and "glued to" Panettiere each time. Terrazas told Page Six, "It appeared that she had been beaten up. It wasn’t apparent to me that it could have been anything else," adding that Panettiere often seemed "battered."
Terrazas' daughter, Vileena Koneru, who lived with her mother at the time, corroborated the neighbor's account. Koneru was present for the January 2024 incident and stated that she and her mother attempted to express their concerns to the responding firefighters on both occasions. Representatives for the Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 7 did not respond to requests for comment, and the nature of the incidents could not be independently confirmed.
Beyond the gurney incidents, Terrazas reported hearing frequent "muffled arguments" from Panettiere's apartment, describing the tone as "very hostile." She also recounted an instance where she heard Panettiere yell at Hickerson in an elevator, "Just leave me alone! Just stop!"
In July 2020, Hickerson was charged with multiple offenses, including felony counts of corporal injury, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, and dissuading a witness. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant in April 2021, leading to a sentence of 45 days in jail, four years of probation, and domestic violence classes. Panettiere was granted a five-year protective order at that time, which has since expired.
Terrazas also claimed to have reported Hickerson to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department multiple times for allegedly being present at the apartment complex despite the active protective order. She stated that deputies removed him at least once, but he reportedly returned the following day. According to Terrazas, the sheriff's department explained that Panettiere and Hickerson continued to return together despite their efforts to separate them.
In August 2025, flyers warning residents about Hickerson allegedly trespassing were posted by the building's homeowners association, encouraging them to call 911 if he was seen in common areas. Terrazas noted confusion and distress when these notices were removed shortly after, with the HOA reportedly stating Hickerson was no longer a threat due to entering drug rehabilitation. However, records of a 2025 rehab stay could not be located.
Panettiere and Hickerson had openly discussed their struggles with addiction. Terrazas observed that Hickerson often appeared high or disconnected, while Panettiere sometimes seemed "out of it."
Panettiere died on July 19, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. Her death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. Hickerson's brother has claimed that Brian administered Narcan and that they both performed CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived. The Greenville County Coroner's Office stated that resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. An autopsy report found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death, but the investigation is ongoing pending toxicology results.
Hickerson's attorney stated that "Hayden's death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," adding that "police confirmed there were no signs of foul play."
In May 2026, Panettiere spoke about her on-again, off-again relationship with Hickerson, which began in 2018. In her memoir and subsequent press tour, she described a cycle where Hickerson would become violent when under the influence, apologize upon sobering up, and she would tolerate the abuse, admitting that being alone scared her more.
Hickerson has acknowledged being abusive and struggling with addiction, expressing regret for his treatment of Panettiere. In June 2026, he made a comment on Instagram stating, "Yes, its wonderful if she gets out of line I just Google myself and say hey stop it this is what I’m allegedly capable of."