Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
The brother of Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson has spoken out days after the Nashville star’s death.
Panettiere died August 16 at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, aged 36. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Zach Hickerson, 38, spoke Friday on what would have been the Heroes star’s 37th birthday, sharing how he and Brian found Panettiere unconscious. He claimed that the trio had plans to get lunch and go indoor golfing Sunday before tragedy struck.
“When I left church I called and texted both of them. When I didn’t reach Brian or Hayden, I just assumed maybe they fell back asleep so I drove over and went to the Airbnb. When I got there I knew the code to the building but not the door code to the AirBnb,” Zach told TMZ.
“I knocked loudly which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pull out couch bed in the living room. When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious.”
Hayden Panettiere died Sunday at the age of 36 (2023 Invision)
Zach also claimed to the outlet that “Brian gave her Narcan,” the medication commonly administered to offset an opioid overdose.
According to a police incident report viewed by The Independent, Brian and Zach called 911 when they realized Panettiere was unconscious. Officers recorded that Zach was emotional as emergency services worked to save Panettiere’s life, but that Brian only became emotional after she was officially declared dead. The report also stated that Brian turned over a “bag of medication” belonging to Panettiere to investigators. The names of the medications were redacted.
A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma.
Panettiere’s death is being investigated.
One day after police reportedly began probing whether there could be criminal conduct behind Panettiere’s death, Brian broke his silence via his lawyer, saying, in part, “it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.”
That now reportedly involves the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, who joined the investigation into Panettiere’s death on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke to The New York Times.
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend’s brother has spoken out about her death (Getty)
Panettiere’s death was confirmed in a statement released by her father.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip, said Sunday to 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.”
Known for her roles in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, the 2006 NBC series Heroes, and the 2012 ABC series Nashville, Panettiere was also the face of skincare brand Neutrogena for a decade.
After her death, Panettiere’s comments from earlier this year that Neutrogena “fired” her in 2015 after she spoke about her postpartum depression resurfaced, prompting intense backlash against the brand.
Neutrogena issued a formal public apology Thursday, acknowledging “we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time.”
Panettiere was the face of skincare brand Neutrogena for a decade (Neutrogena)
Panettiere became a mother in December 2014, when she and former fiancé, Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko, welcomed their daughter, Kaya. Panettiere later gave Klitschko full custody of Kaya in 2018 while she was struggling with addiction and postpartum depression.
She spoke about the decision again in 2022, telling Facebook Watch’s Red Table Talk podcast that signing the papers was “the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”
Klitschko released a statement after Panettiere’s death and another Friday to mark what would have been her 37th birthday.
“You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten,” he wrote in part.