NEWSHayden Panettiere's 'Unexpected' Death Sparks Police Probe Into Possible Criminal Conduct: Source
Hayden Panettiere's 'unexpected' death at 36 has sparked an investigation into possible criminal conduct behind her passing.
Aug. 19 2026, Updated 1:43 p.m. ET
Hayden Panettiere's sudden death has reportedly sparked an investigation into possible criminal conduct.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ on Wednesday, August 19, that police are looking into possible illegality behind the Nashville star's death, with the probe reportedly being prompted by how "unexpected" her passing was.
Police Were Seen Outside Brian Hickerson's Family Home
Hayden Panettiere died at 36 on August 16.
The outlet reported that the Greenville Police Department in South Carolina was seen outside Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson's family home on Wednesday, August 19, at around 8:20 a.m., appearing to look for information connected to the Hollywood starlet's suspected overdose death.
As OK! previously reported, Panettiere was 36 when she died on Sunday, August 16. She was found unresponsive by Brian's brother, Zach Hickerson, at a South Carolina apartment complex just five miles from the siblings' grandmother's home.
Brian was reportedly at the apartment as well but asleep in another room.
Hayden Panettiere Was in 'Cardiac Arrest' Before Her Passing
Narcan was reportedly found on the scene, though its unclear who it was used on.
Emergency responders received a call around 1:52 p.m. regarding an "unidentified female" in "cardiac arrest" following a suspected overdose, according to 911 dispatch audio.
The Heroes star was pronounced dead less than one hour later after first responders attempted life-saving measures on the scene. Narcan, a nasal spray intended to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was also reportedly found on a mattress nearby, though it's unclear who it was administered to.
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- Hayden Panettiere Was Found Unresponsive in Chair by Boyfriend Brian Hickerson's Brother: Source
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Inside Hayden Panettiere's Relationship With Brian Hickerson
Hayden Panettiere reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before her death.
Multiple outlets reported that the Ice Princess actress and her on-and-off partner traveled to South Carolina, on August 15, just one day before her death.
The pair was known for their tumultuous relationship — which began in 2018 — with Brian being sentenced to 45 days in prison after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring her.
Hayden Panettiere Spoke About the Abuse in Memoir Before Her Death
Hayden Panettiere included several instances of abuse at the hands of Brian Hickerson.
Hayden spoke at length about the abuse she experienced in her May memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, including recounting the first time Brian allegedly hit her with an "open-face slap."
"One night he busts up my face so badly I don’t leave the house for weeks. Another day he screams at me to run as far as I can in five seconds because I’ll need a head start before he throws the remote control at me," she wrote. "This is a man who doesn’t miss, I think. And he doesn’t."
The Remember the Titans actress confessed her inner circle was concerned that she was "in a dangerous situation" during the relationship.
Ahead of the book's release, Brian told TMZ that he and Hayden had a "mutual respect thing now," adding, "We're just good buddies" — though he did admit that he asked her not to include the story about the remote control in the book.
It's unclear when the two rekindled their relationship.
