Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson was denied his request to reduce past felony charges three days before her death.
Page Six reports that prosecution objected to Hickerson’s motions to expunge and to reduce charges to a misdemeanor during a hearing on Thursday, August 13. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to the outlet that Judge Olivia Rosales denied Hickerson’s motion.
Hickerson, 36, previously pleaded no contest in 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend after he was arrested and received an eight-count criminal indictment. The charges were related to a series of alleged incidents involving Panettiere between 2019 and 2020.
Days after Hickerson’s request was denied, Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, at age 36. In dispatch audio obtained by People, officials in Greenville County were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” read a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office on Monday, August 17. “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.”
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed “a parallel investigation” was initiated with the Greenville City Police Department.
“The decedent has been identified as Hayden Leslie Panettiere, 36, of California. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying,” the press release continued.
Panettiere’s autopsy, which was completed on Monday, showed “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” The cause and manner of her death “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”
“This investigation remains active and ongoing,” the statement concluded. “No further details are available for release at this time.”
Panettiere traveled to South Carolina from Los Angeles with Hickerson before her death. The former couple started dating in 2018. Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence that same year after an alleged argument between him and the actress. (Hickerson was charged with felony domestic violence, which resulted in a prosecutor-requested protective order. The charges were dropped the following year.)
Hickerson was arrested again in 2020 after allegedly punching Panettiere in the face. At the time, Hickerson served 33 days in prison and was also placed on four years of probation and required to pay a $500 fine.
Hickerson previously attempted to expunge and reduce the felony charges against him in July 2025, according to Page Six. He reportedly claimed in his petition for dismissal that he had fulfilled the conditions of his probation.
Panettiere, for her part, opened up to Us about the challenges she faced in her relationship with Hickerson in her May cover story.
“Getting an abusive person out of your life is like trying to rip a weed out that is so entangled into your life,” she said. “Every time you pull it out, another weed pops back up and you’re like, ‘I thought I killed this.’ They always manage to find a way to slither back into your life, even if you’re an incredibly strong-willed person.”
Following Panettiere’s death, a source told Us that the actress’ inner circle was “worried” about her after she reconnected with Hickerson.
“That relationship and association had led her down a dark path in the past, so her friends and inner circle were worried for her,” the insider said. “There were concerns and her friends really hoped she was doing OK.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
