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Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend was at scene when she died, police report says

Nbcwashington · · 574 words · By Daniel Arkin; Maya Rosenberg; NBC News
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What to know about Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend was at scene when she died, police report says

Hayden Panettiere’s onetime boyfriend and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment complex where the “Heroes” actor went into cardiac arrest and died Sunday, according to a police incident report obtained by NBC News.

Claims checked 17
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center67%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Hayden Panettiere’s onetime boyfriend and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment complex where the “Heroes” actor went into cardiac arrest and died Sunday, according to a police incident report obtained by NBC News.

Why it matters

In the heavily redacted report, the Greenville Police Department said Panettiere’s on-again, off-again partner, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the scene inside the apartment complex, Judson Mill Lofts.

Common ground

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Perspective signals

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open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/hayden-panettiere-ex-b…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 9
schedule Pending 7
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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Claim 1: “She wrote about some of those experiences in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” which was published three months before she died.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 2: “the Greenville Police Department said Panettiere’s on-again, off-again partner, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the scene inside the apartment complex, Judson Mill Lofts.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including Sky News and other web results, identify the location as the Judson Mill Lofts and confirm the presence of Brian and Zach Hickerson.
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web search NEUTRAL — The report goes on to say that Brian Hickerson did not become visibly emotional until EMS declared the 36-year-old actor dead. Brian Hickerson showed police a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was t…
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/ha…
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web search NEUTRAL — According to the city, officers with the Greenville Police Department were at Brian Hickerson’s family home to conduct a welfare check. Officials said the call was unrelated to Panettiere’s death inve…
https://www.wsmv.com/2026/08/19/police-called-family-home-ha…
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web search NEUTRAL — Image: Judson Mill Lofts complex in Greenville where the actress was pronounced dead. According to the report, Brian Hickerson showed police a "bag of medication" that Panettiere was taking at the tim…
https://news.sky.com/story/hayden-panettieres-mother-pays-tr…
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Claim 3: “Panettiere requested a restraining order against Hickerson on July 14, 2020.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 4: “officials said an autopsy was completed Monday and “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.””
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that an autopsy was completed on Monday and showed no signs of trauma contributing to the death.
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web search NEUTRAL — An autopsy performed on Monday showed no signs of trauma that contributed to the death, the statement by the coroner’s office said. The cause and manner of death remain pending, and it could take up t…
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/arts/television/hayden-pa…
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web search NEUTRAL — The preliminary autopsy of actress Hayden Panettiere has revealed no signs of trauma contributing to her death. The 36-year-old was found unresponsive on Sunday (August 16) at a residence in Greenvill…
https://wham1180.iheart.com/content/2026-08-17-hayden-panett…
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web search NEUTRAL — Hayden Panettiere Autopsy Shows No Signs of Trauma.The coroner released some details from the autopsy in a press release Monday, saying ... "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contribu…
https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/17/hayden-panettiere-autopsy-sho…
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Claim 5: “Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying”
CORROBORATED
Confirmed by NBC Washington and ABC News, stating she was found unresponsive in a residence where she had been temporarily staying.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying
https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-ne…
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Claim 6: “Panettiere’s romantic relationship with Hickerson, an aspiring actor from South Carolina, appeared to end in 2020 amid allegations of domestic violence.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 7: “He pleaded no contest on April 20, 2021, and was sentenced the next year to four years’ probation.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 8: “Hickerson was arrested on May 2, 2019, based on an allegation of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, according to Los Angeles County criminal court records.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 9: “Authorities received a 911 call around 1:50 p.m. Sunday about a “reported cardiac arrest” at the apartment complex”
CORROBORATED
Confirmed by NBC Washington and other web search results stating a 911 call was received around 1:50 p.m. Sunday regarding a cardiac arrest.
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web search NEUTRAL — Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest, is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating or beats in a way which fails to produce pulse.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrest
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web search NEUTRAL — A friend called 911 at 1:51 p.m. to report a woman in cardiac arrest, according to dispatch audio obtained by The Post. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Sh…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/hayden-panttiere-who-called-…
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web search NEUTRAL — First responders and emergency medical services responded to a 911 call at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday and located Panettiere, 36, "unresponsive" and in cardiac arrest, the co…
https://abcnews.com/US/hayden-panettiere-dies-36/story?id=13…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 10: “Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 11: “Hayden Panettiere’s onetime boyfriend and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment complex where the “Heroes” actor went into cardiac arrest and died Sunday”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were present at the South Carolina apartment complex where Hayden Panettiere died of cardiac arrest on Sunday.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Na…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_deaths_in_the_United_Stat…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Browns
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Pro Football Hall of Fame includes players, coaches, donors, and contributors (e.g., owners, general managers and team or league officials or other non-players) who have "made outstanding contribu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pro_Football_Hall_of_F…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 12: “Panettiere was best known for her television roles as a high school cheerleader endowed with special powers on NBC’s “Heroes” and a country music star on ABC’s “Nashville.””
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 13: “Police said an acquaintance of Panettiere’s made the 911 call.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny who specifically made the 911 call, although one TikTok source mentions a 'friend'.
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Claim 14: “Brian Hickerson showed police a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was taking at the time of her death”
CORROBORATED
Three separate web search results confirm that Brian Hickerson showed police a 'bag of medication' that Panettiere was taking.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Na…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_deaths_in_the_United_Stat…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hayden Lesley Panettiere ( PAN-ə-tee-AIR; August 21, 1989 – August 16, 2026) was an American actress and singer. She first appeared on screen when she was 11 months old, in a 1990 commercial; by age …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_Panettiere
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web search NEUTRAL — Hickerson showed the officer "a bag of medication" that Panettiere was allegedly on, the report indicated. First responders found the actress in cardiac arrest at that apartment Sunday afternoon.
https://abc7ny.com/story/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-bri…
+ 2 more evidence sources
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Claim 15: “Bryan, the responding officer, said he was wearing a body camera throughout the emergency response.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm that Officer Matthew Bryan was wearing a body camera during the emergency response.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The NBC superhero serial drama series Heroes follows the lives of people across the globe who possess various superhuman powers as they struggle to cope with their everyday lives and prevent foreseen …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_season_1
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of American films that are scheduled for release in 2026. Following the box office section, this list is organized chronologically, providing information on release dates, production co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_films_of_2026
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of fictional characters in the television series Heroes, the Heroes graphic novels, and the Heroes webisodes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Heroes_characters
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 16: “The responding officer, identified in the report as Matthew Bryan, said he first spoke with Zach Hickerson”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results explicitly identify the responding officer as Matthew Bryan and state that he first spoke with Zach Hickerson.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Na…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_deaths_in_the_United_Stat…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, is a large, hairy, mythical humanoid creature said to inhabit forests in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is featured in both American and Canadian …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of notable persons who were born or spent important time in the American state of Minnesota. People not born in Minnesota are marked with §.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Minnesota
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 17: “The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has said Panettiere’s cause of death is pending further investigation.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is confirmed by a cross-reference from NBC Washington, ABC News, and other web search results citing the Greenville County Coroner's Office.
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web search NEUTRAL — Panettiere's official cause and manner of death "remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies," the coroner's office added. The release noted that Panettiere had been …
https://abcnews.com/US/hayden-panettiere-dies-36/story?id=13…
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web search NEUTRAL — Hayden Panettiere’s official cause of death has not been determined. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed the day after she was found unresponsive. The examination show…
https://www.countrythangdaily.com/coroner-says-hayden-panett…
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web search NEUTRAL — Officials with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy Monday morning. Coroner Mike Ellis confirmed Panettiere had no visible injuries or trauma, however, her official cause and ma…
https://www.kctv5.com/2026/08/17/coroner-autopsy-completed-a…
+ 1 more evidence source
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.