The mystery surrounding Hayden Panettiere's sudden death at just 36 has taken another dramatic turn, with a newly released police report revealing that her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson - and his brother Zach - were at the South Carolina apartment when the actress suffered cardiac arrest and died.
And the new details are raising even more questions about Hayden's final hours.
According to the police report, obtained by multiple outlets, Brian and Zach Hickerson were present at the Greenville apartment when emergency crews desperately attempted to save the Nashville and Heroes star on Sunday, August 16. CBS News reports that the brothers made the 911 call that brought first responders to the scene.
Paramedics performed CPR and administered Narcan, but Hayden could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
But one of the most intriguing revelations concerns what Brian reportedly showed investigators.
According to the police report, Hickerson directed officers to a bag containing medication Hayden had reportedly been taking. The specific medications were redacted from the publicly released report, meaning it remains unclear what they were or whether they played any role whatsoever in her death.
That distinction is important because, despite early reports referring to a possible overdose, Hayden's official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office completed an autopsy and reportedly found no traumatic injuries that contributed to her death. Toxicology testing is now underway and could take up to eight weeks to complete.
Police have also said their preliminary investigation has not uncovered evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Still, the revelation that Brian was there immediately puts renewed attention on one of the most controversial relationships of Hayden's life.
Hayden Had Apparently Reconnected With Brian
Hayden began dating Hickerson after ending her relationship with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Their romance subsequently became tabloid fodder for all the wrong reasons, including domestic violence allegations and criminal proceedings involving Hickerson.
Now Page Six reports that some of Hayden's friends didn't even know she had apparently reunited with him before her death. Sources claimed she had kept the renewed relationship quiet from people close to her.
The pair had reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina shortly before Hayden died.
There is another unsettling detail in the police account.
According to reports describing the responding officer's observations, Zach Hickerson appeared visibly emotional while emergency workers attempted to revive Hayden, while Brian reportedly did not become visibly emotional until after she had been pronounced dead. That is simply an officer's reported observation and should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.
Surveillance footage also reportedly captured Hayden and the Hickerson brothers at the apartment complex before the emergency.
Brian's Instagram Suddenly Disappears
Adding another strange twist, Hickerson's Instagram account disappeared following Hayden's death.
TMZ reported that the profile had still been active when news of Hayden's death first broke but subsequently became unavailable. It remains unclear whether Hickerson personally deactivated it or whether it was removed for another reason.
Hickerson has not publicly addressed Hayden's death.
Meanwhile, people who worked with Hayden are beginning to speak about what they witnessed before her death. Director Griff Furst, who worked with her on A Breed Apart, recalled being concerned about the atmosphere surrounding the actress during production and specifically discussed Hickerson's presence on set.
Her Ex Wladimir Klitschko Breaks His Silence
As speculation swirls around Hayden's final days, former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shared daughter Kaya, has paid tribute to her.
Klitschko said Hayden had left the world far too soon and vowed that their daughter would grow up knowing and respecting her mother's achievements and legacy.
The tragedy is particularly heartbreaking because Hayden had spent years publicly discussing her struggles while repeatedly trying to rebuild her life and career. She had spoken candidly about addiction, postpartum depression and the devastating 2023 death of her younger brother, Jansen.
Now the question everyone wants answered - what actually killed Hayden Panettiere? - may ultimately come down to the toxicology report.
For now, authorities have found no evidence of foul play, Brian Hickerson has not been accused of causing Hayden's death, and the exact contents and significance of the medication found at the scene remain unknown.
But the newly released police report has dramatically changed what the public knows about Hayden's final moments.
She wasn't alone.
Brian Hickerson was there. His brother was there. A bag of medication was shown to police. Emergency workers tried desperately to revive her. And now investigators are waiting for toxicology results to explain why, at only 36 years old, Hayden Panettiere never woke up.
