Actor Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36 after being found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment complex, according to law enforcement and coroner records. Authorities received a 911 call around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday regarding a reported cardiac arrest at the Judson Mill Lofts reported by NBC News.
Actor Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36 in South Carolina Apartment
First responders initiated cardiac life support and performed CPR for an extended period, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene. Dispatch audio obtained by Yahoo indicated that officials discussed an overdose and cardiac arrest around the time of her death, though a representative for Panettiere stated that full confirmation was pending.
Police Report Places Ex-Boyfriend and Brother at the Scene
According to a heavily redacted police incident report from the Greenville Police Department, Panettiere’s on-again, off-again partner, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were inside the apartment when authorities arrived. The responding officer, Matthew Bryan, noted that Zach Hickerson spoke with police and explained that Panettiere was temporarily staying at the residence Cbsnews.
The report states that Zach Hickerson appeared very emotional while emergency medical services personnel worked on Panettiere. By contrast, Brian Hickerson did not become visibly emotional until EMS officially declared her deceased. During the response, Brian Hickerson showed the responding officer a bag of medication that Panettiere was currently taking, though the specific list of medications was redacted from the publicly released document. Officer Bryan also noted that CCTV footage captured Panettiere and the Hickerson brothers coming and going from the apartment.
Investigation and Autopsy Results Remain Pending
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office stated that an autopsy was completed on Monday. Officials reported that the examination revealed no signs of trauma or suspicious circumstances that would have contributed to the death, and investigators found no signs of foul play.
The exact cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies reported by HuffPost, a process that coroner officials noted could take up to eight weeks. Investigators conducted a search warrant at the property, and the active inquiry remains ongoing.
Remembering Her Career and Personal Life
Outside of her screen career, Panettiere was open about her personal challenges, including struggles with postpartum depression, alcohol and opioid addiction, and recovering from domestic abuse. She detailed those experiences in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning,
which was published earlier in the year. She is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
