Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Files for Temporary Guardianship of Daughter

Sep 29, 2026 - 01:11

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Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Files for Temporary Guardianship of Daughter

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Wladimir Klitschko is taking steps to protect his and Hayden Panettiere’s daughter.

Over a month after the Heroes actress tragically died at the age of 36, her ex filed for temporary guardianship of their 11-year-old Kaya, saying he did so to ensure their daughter gains ownership of her late mother’s estate.

In court documents filed Sept. 24 and obtained by E! News, Klitschko’s legal team emphasized that it is “urgent and essential” that Panettiere’s ex be appointed as his daughter’s guardian to ensure he has the eligibility to file a probate petition for her estate.

“Without an immediate appointment for these purposes, there is a high probability that property belonging to Hayden's Estate may be lost, damaged or dissipated before a duly appointed personal representative can be in place to protect it,” the filing reads. “This directly and adversely affects Kaya, as she is the sole heir entitled to the entirety of Hayden's probate estate.”

Klitschko’s lawyers argue in the filing that without his immediate appointment as Kaya’s guardian, no one is able “to marshal, protect and account for the assets” of Panettiere’s estate."

And considering the ongoing investigation into the Remember the Titans star’s death—which was ruled earlier this month to be accidental due to toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine, per the Greenville County Coroner's Office—Klitschko’s filing also expressed concern over federal agents’ treatment of Panettiere’s personal items amid their investigation, as well as concern for “an individual” who appeared to have access to Panettiere’s home prior to her death.

“Locks to Hayden's Home were changed by the security service following Hayden's death, and storage units containing designer clothing and accessories worn to public appearances have been relocated as a precaution,” the filing added. “Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expected that the individual will continue to try and misappropriate property belonging to Hayden's Estate.”

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A hearing regarding Klitschko’s status as Kaya’s guardian has been set for December 7, 2026, per the filing. E! News has reached out to attorneys for Klitschko but has not yet heard back.

Klitschko—who previously dated Panettiere on-and-off from 2009 to 2018—received full custody of Kaya in 2018 and called the Ice Princess alum “an important part” of his and his daughter’s life in a statement following her death.

“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was," Klitschko wrote in a statement he shared to social media Aug. 18. "I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”

For a deeper look into the events surrounding Panettiere’s death and the investigation, keep reading…

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When Did Hayden Panettiere Die?

Hayden Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. She was 36.

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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 could be heard discussing an apparent overdose.

However, the official cause and manner of death were not initially revealed as the coroner's office and Greenville City Police Department continued their investigations.

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What Was Hayden Panettiere's Cause of Death?

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.

About a month later, Panettiere's official cause of death was revealed.

"The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine," the Greenville County Coroner's Office said in a statement Sept. 22. "The manner of death has been ruled accident."

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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.

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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."

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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 age 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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