Hayden Panettiere traveled with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson from Los Angeles to South Carolina on August 15, just a day before her death. She was found unresponsive on August 16, with authorities indicating no signs of foul play during their preliminary investigation.
Hickerson has faced multiple allegations of domestic violence in the past, including a 2019 arrest related to an incident with Panettiere. Their relationship had seen ups and downs, with Panettiere previously discussing the complexities of their friendship and Hickerson's recovery journey.