Police Visit Brian Hickerson Family Home Days After Hayden Panettiere’s Sudden Death

Police reportedly visited a home connected to Brian Hickerson’s family just days after the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, raising new questions as authorities continue to investigate her sudden passing.

According to Page Six, officers from the Greenville Police Department went to a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, at about 8:20 a.m. Wednesday. The home reportedly belongs to a member of Hickerson’s family. Officers knocked on several doors but received no response. After about three minutes, they left, according to the report.

Hickerson, 37, and his brother, Zach, were reportedly with Panettiere around the time of her death.

Panettiere, known for her roles in “Nashville” and “Heroes,” was found unresponsive at a Greenville-area residence on Sunday, Aug. 16, at about 1:50 p.m., according to police. She was 36.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said emergency responders attempted to save her using advanced cardiac life support measures. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.

Dispatch audio reportedly included references to a possible overdose and cardiac arrest. However, authorities have not released an official cause of death, and no conclusion about what led to Panettiere’s death has been announced.

Panettiere and Hickerson began dating in 2018. Their relationship was marked by multiple domestic violence cases involving Hickerson.

In 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner connected to a 2020 arrest. He received a sentence that included 45 days in jail, four years of formal probation, domestic violence classes, restitution and a five-year protective order. He ultimately served 13 days in jail. Other charges from the case were dropped, while a separate 2019 case was dismissed.

Following Hickerson’s 2020 arrest, Panettiere publicly spoke about her experience in an effort to encourage other people in abusive relationships to seek help.

Two years later, however, Panettiere said in an interview with PEOPLE that she had forgiven Hickerson and that the two had reconnected as friends. She said she believed he had served his time and was willing to get help.

Panettiere’s family has continued to express concern about Hickerson. After her death, her mother, Lesley Vogel, told NBC News that the family had been trying to distance Hickerson from Panettiere for some time. Vogel also said the family had long been worried about his influence on her.

Panettiere’s death was confirmed by her representative on Aug. 16. Her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and joy to those around her.

The actress is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Authorities have not publicly identified a cause of death. The reported police visit to the Hickerson family residence has also not been linked by authorities to any wrongdoing or to the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death.