Hayden Panettiere reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, just one day before her death.
The actress died Sunday at the age of 36. Detectives told Our News Outlet that authorities were called to an apartment in Greenville after a 911 caller, described as an “acquaintance” of Panettiere, reported that she was “unresponsive.”
Audio from the emergency call, placed at 1.51pm, captured a female dispatcher initially describing the situation as a cardiac arrest. Moments later, a male voice could be heard saying Panettiere may have suffered a suspected overdose.
Police officers and paramedics attempted lifesaving measures at the scene, including chest compressions, as they worked to revive her.
The first 911 call came in at 1.51pm, but Panettiere, who was set to turn 37 on Friday, was pronounced dead at the apartment a little more than 40 minutes later.
Greenville police and the coroner’s office have opened an investigation into the death, though officials said the “preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
Panettiere is understood to have arrived in South Carolina on Saturday with Hickerson, a real estate agent and her on-off partner, who is from the state. She had been expected to celebrate her 37th birthday later this week.
In a statement, the Greenville Police Department said officers, “accompanied by EMS personnel,” responded at around 1.50pm Sunday to a report of an unresponsive woman.
Hayden Panettiere flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, just a day before she died, according to reports (above in 2018)
‘Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
‘The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.’
TMZ also reported the actress had complained of back pain in the past year.
Hayden’s representative confirmed that officials are looking into what happened and more details will be revealed in due course.
The spokesman told NBC News: ‘There’s an investigation ongoing. We should know more tomorrow.’
A statement from her father, Skip, read: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’
Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they ‘take time to process this unimaginable loss’.
The actress passed away at the age of 36 on Sunday. An investigation into her death is ongoing, but police say a preliminary investigation has ‘not indicated any signs of foul play’
Hayden and Brian had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was plagued by domestic violence incidents and arrests.
He was sentenced to 45 days in county jail after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend back in April 2021.
Back in May, Brian revealed he ‘still dreamt’ of marrying the actress – despite admitting to abusing her.
When asked by TMZ if he ever thought about marrying the actress, he responded: ‘Yeah, of course… I hope so – she probably doesn’t think the same way.’
However, he acknowledged it was not healthy for the pair to resume a romantic relationship, as he added: ‘I think that Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life, and I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.
‘So, we probably wouldn’t be good together.’
Brian said the pair’s relationship had now evolved into friendship after they were seen at the airport together in March, but said, ‘I miss Hayden every day.’
The actress later offered her response to his comments about marriage while talking to TMZ as she arrived at LAX airport back in May.
When asked to offer her reaction, she said, ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen’.
Speaking about the relationship and her memoir, the actress told Us Weekly, ‘It’s a very embarrassing subject. I’ve always seen myself as such a resilient and strong woman.’
‘The idea that I could allow something like this to happen to me blew my mind. It blew the minds of the people that knew me best.’
Hayden’s This Is Me: A Reckoning memoir also detailed her battles with addiction and postpartum depression.
