Brian Hickerson, through his attorney, recently expressed his sorrow over the passing of his intermittent partner, Hayden Panettiere, who tragically passed away on Sunday, leaving many in shock.
Sloan Ellis, his legal representative, shared with TMZ on Thursday that the circumstances surrounding Hayden’s death are still being investigated. “It’s crucial that the investigation is permitted to continue unobstructed,” she emphasized.
The attorney reiterated the importance of respecting the process and the privacy of those affected. “Out of sensitivity toward Hayden’s family and friends, and given the active investigation, there will be no additional comments at this juncture,” the statement elaborated.
As previously reported by Page Six, Hayden, aged 36, was discovered lifeless in a residence located in Greenville, South Carolina, during the recent weekend.
On the scene were both Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson. It was Zach who found Hayden’s body, while Brian remained asleep in another part of the apartment.
According to the 911 audio exclusively obtained by Page Six, paramedics responded to a call about an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest.” Within minutes, “CPR [was] in progress” for the “overdose.”
Authorities said there are no signs of foul play and a cause of death has not yet been revealed. The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation.
An autopsy obtained by us showed “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”
The day before Hayden’s death, she traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with Hickerson.
The “Remember the Titans” actress and the aspiring actor have dated on and off since 2018.
The pair had a tumultuous past, which included alleged incidents of abuse.
In May 2019, Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence due to an alleged incident with Hayden that resulted in her having redness and visible marks on her body.
At the time, the “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star and Hickerson were drinking in Hollywood the night before the physical altercation at their home. Hickerson was subsequently taken into custody for felony domestic violence for allegedly starting the fight.
In April 2021, Hickerson accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. Six other counts were dismissed.
He was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of formal probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes and a five-year restraining order.
Hayden is survived by her and ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko‘s daughter, Kaya, who was born in December 2014.
Kaya has been living in Ukraine with her father since 2018.
The actress made the “heartbreaking” decision to relinquish custody of Kaya to her ex as she struggled with addiction.