Hayden Panettiere’s death has now drawn fresh attention to the family home of her former on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
Days after the actress was found dead at a nearby Airbnb, Greenville police made two visits to a property belonging to Brian’s grandmother, where neither attempt initially produced an answer.
The reason for the officers’ presence has not been disclosed, adding another unanswered question as authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s sudden death at 36.
Two Greenville Police Department vehicles arrived at the South Carolina property belonging to Brian and Zach Hickerson’s grandmother, Betty Ellison, on Wednesday at around 8:20 a.m., according to photos obtained by Page Six.
The home is roughly five miles from the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex where Hayden Panettiere died.
An officer repeatedly knocked on the front door but received no response, while another officer attempted the side entrance.
After approximately three minutes, both officers left. The unanswered visit might have ended there, but police returned roughly an hour and a half later.
This time, officers went around the back of the property to “conduct a welfare check.” Police did not identify who the check concerned, leaving the reason for the visit unclear.
A representative for the Greenville Police Department confirmed the “welfare check” explanation to the outlet. The four-bedroom property reportedly remained closed up, with its blinds shut throughout the morning.
Panettiere’s Death Brings Focus Back To Brian Hickerson
The police appearance comes only days after Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at an Airbnb where she had been temporarily staying.
According to the police report, Zach entered the Airbnb and found Panettiere “unresponsive” in a chair in the living room. Brian was reportedly asleep in a bedroom at the time.
Zach described the actress to officers as his “brother’s girlfriend,” although the precise nature of her relationship with Brian remained unclear.
The former couple dated on and off from 2018 to 2020, but a source previously said they “always remained in contact” following their breakups.
Brian reportedly showed officers a “bag of medication” that Panettiere had allegedly been taking. Emergency personnel attempted advanced cardiac life support, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The police report noted that Zach became “very emotional” while responders worked on Panettiere, while Brian became emotional after she was officially pronounced dead.
Inside The Threatening Texts Brian Allegedly Sent Hayden Panettiere
The Blast reported that Panettiere’s then-boyfriend Brian Hickerson allegedly sent a series of threatening messages after his 2020 arrest for domestic violence.
Following his February arrest in Wyoming that year, Brian was subject to a court order prohibiting contact with Panettiere, yet authorities said he continued reaching out.
Among the messages was the ominous line, “Time to go to war I guess.” Other alleged texts referenced videos and threatened consequences if he went to jail. According to the court documents, Panettiere’s attorney provided authorities with screenshots of messages, missed calls and video clips allegedly sent by Hickerson.
One message stated, “After Wyoming and LA disappears so do the videos,” while another allegedly warned that material stored overseas would be released if he went to prison. Authorities viewed the messages as potential attempts to intimidate Panettiere and pressure her to drop the case.
Another alleged message read, “Say something Hayd, so I don’t get defensive and start firing off emails to people to get ready.”
Brian also allegedly wrote, “It is very simple, it is a very simple fix, between me and you, you gotta make one phone call.” He reportedly added, “I don’t want to go to court, for you. I will be f-king fine in court, trust me, it’s for you.”
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause Of Death Remains Under Investigation
3Despite the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death, authorities have not publicly established a final cause or manner of death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy had been completed and found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” the coroner’s office stated per The Blast.
“First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM,” they added,
Dispatch audio reportedly indicated that Panettiere may have suffered an “overdose” before going into cardiac arrest. Narcan, an emergency medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, was also reportedly found inside the Airbnb.
However, the investigation remains “active and ongoing” while authorities await toxicology results.
Hayden Panettiere’s Family Mourns As Questions Remain
3Panettiere’s death has left her family grieving while authorities continue working to establish what happened.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, described the actress as an extraordinary presence in a statement released after her death.
“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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss,” he revealed per The Blast.
The “Heroes” alum is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.