Brian Hickerson’s Brother Slams Rumors About Hayden Panettiere’s Death
Hayden Panettiere's Boyfriend Brian Hickerson Briefly Detained After Bar Altercation
Zach Hickerson is fed up with the rumor mill.
The brother of Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson broke his silence after the siblings were involved in an altercation at a bar in South Carolina Sept. 12 that left Zach behind bars.
“It’s super frustrating, all that we’ve been through and all the rumors that get started and then people believe them,” Zach told TMZ Sept. 13 after he was released from Greenville County Detention Center. “And then they attack, as a result of the rumors. That’s what pisses me off.”
He continued, “People fill in their own holes and then they wanna attack people for no reason.”
Though Zach said he’d “clarify eventually” on what happened during the altercation, right now he just wants to “get my car and get back to my life.”
Greenville police confirmed to E! News that officers were dispatched to a bar at approximately 9:10 PM on Sept. 12 in response to a “reported assault” within the establishment.
“Upon arrival, officers located several individuals involved in an altercation and detained multiple patrons while the incident was investigated,” the statement from the police department added. “Two individuals were identified as Brian Hickerson and Zachary Hickerson.”
Though authorities shared that Brian—who was first linked to Hayden in 2018—was released from the scene and was not charged, they determined that Zach was “highly intoxicated.”
Photo by gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images, Instagram/Zach Hickerson
“He began yelling profanities in a public setting,” the statement noted, “and as a result, he was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and transported to the Greenville County Detention Center.”
Nearly a month before his arrest, Zach was confirmed to have been by Hayden’s side along with Brian in the Greenville, S.C., apartment where she was staying when she died at age 36 in August.
Before the Ice Princess actress was treated by first responders for an apparent overdose and cardiac arrest, according to 911 dispatch audio, Zack told TMZ in an Aug. 21 statement, “I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan.”
“We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived,” he added. “At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life."
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Following her death, Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis performed an autopsy and noted in his report, obtained by E! News, that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” (Her cause and manner of death have not yet been released.)
And after her tragic passing, Zach shared he was “beyond heartbroken and devastated.”
"Hayden was one of my dearest and closest friends that I loved and cared about for the last 8 years," he added. "Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation."
Keep reading for more about Hayden’s death…
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When Did Hayden Panettiere Die?
Hayden Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. She was 36.
Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic
How Did Hayden Panettiere Die?
After receiving a 911 call at around 1:51 p.m. on Aug. 16, first responders and emergency medical services arrived at a residence in Greenville and found a woman—later identified as Panettiere—in cardiac arrest, according to a release shared by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office the following day. While "advanced cardiac life support measures" were provided, the release continued, the "resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful" as Panettiere was unresponsive. The actress was pronounced dead at the scene a little after 2:30 p.m. In audio of the emergency dispatch call obtained by CNN and TMZ, EMS responders can be heard discussing an apparent overdose.
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What Has Hayden Panettiere's Autopsy Revealed So Far?
In its Aug. 17 release, the coroner's office confirmed an autopsy was completed and that "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death" of the Heroes star.
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Who Was With Hayden Panettiere When She Died?
The Greenville City Police Department noted in its Aug. 17 release that "an acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call," with a redacted police report obtained by E! listing both Brian Hickerson—her on-again, off-again boyfriend since 2018— and his brother Zach Hickerson as the ones to call 911.
Zach later told officers investigating Panettiere's death that she was Brian's girlfriend, according to Greenville City PD's report.
Zach also shared in an Aug. 21 statement to TMZ that Brian gave Panettiere Narcan—an opioid overdose reversal medication—after the pair found the actress unconscious in the apartment she was renting. Zach also said that he and Brian "jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived."
Police noted in an Aug. 16 release that "the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances" around her death.
gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
How Did Brian Hickerson and Zach Hickerson React to Hayden Panettiere's Death?
In the police report, an officer noted Zach was "very emotional while EMS were working on" Panettiere, though
"Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased."
E! News has reached out to Zach for comment but has not heard back. Meanwhile, Brian's attorney Sloan Ellis has spoken out.
"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis told E! News Aug. 20. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
And while police told People officers "responded to a call for a welfare check at a home belonging to Brian Hickerson’s family" on Aug. 19, they noted "the call is unrelated to the Hayden Panettiere death investigation and did not require an incident report."
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
What Has Hayden Panettiere's Family Said About Her Death?
After Panettiere died, her father Skip Panettiere told ABC News 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."
Two days later, her mother Lesley Vogel broke her silence.
"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death," she told NBC News Aug. 18, "and that was Brian Hickerson."
While Panettiere—whose brother Jansen died in 2023 at ae 28—and her mom had publicly spoken about their estrangement, Vogel remembered her daughter as "an amazingly talented person in so many departments."
"I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry—it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry," she added, "and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."
Additionally, her ex Wladimir Klitschko addressed his "profound shock and grief" he and their daughter Kaya were facing in the wake of Panettiere's death. The Ukranian boxer further vowed to keep the Nashville alum's legacy alive in Kaya's memory.
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