Brian Hickerson has become a central figure in the days following Hayden Panettiere’s death, after a police report placed him at the scene and her estranged mother spoke out about him publicly. Here’s what’s known about him and his connection to the story.
What the Police Report Says
According to a Greenville Police Department report obtained by NBC News, Hickerson, 37, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were inside the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex when Panettiere went into cardiac arrest on Aug. 16. The report states that Hickerson did not become emotional until Panettiere was pronounced dead just after 2:30 p.m., while his brother was visibly distraught as emergency responders worked to revive her.
Hickerson later gave emergency responders a bag of medication Panettiere had reportedly been taking at the time of her death. The report does not indicate any wrongdoing on Hickerson’s part, and no charges have been announced. The two had traveled together from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before, on Aug. 15, though the status of their relationship had not been publicly confirmed prior to her death.
Panettiere’s Mother Speaks Out
Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, 70, addressed her daughter’s death in a statement to NBC News on Aug. 18. She said the family had been trying to get rid of Hickerson for some time, and confirmed he was the person with Panettiere when she died. Vogel added that young people who grow up in the entertainment industry face real pressures that can sadly lead some down the wrong path.
E! News reported it had reached out to Hickerson’s attorney for comment but had not heard back.
A Long-Strained Relationship
Panettiere and her mother had been estranged for some time before her death. In a 2025 interview, Panettiere said the two didn’t currently have a relationship, though she said she remained open to reconciling one day.
The estrangement became more public earlier this year after Panettiere detailed their difficult history in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” Vogel pushed back publicly in a May interview, suggesting some of what her daughter shared was aimed at boosting book sales, and describing a broader pattern of controlling behavior and entitlement without naming her daughter directly.
This is a developing story, and the police report does not allege wrongdoing by Brian Hickerson. The official cause and manner of Hayden Panettiere’s death have not yet been determined.