Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, has broken his silence following her death, with his lawyer issuing a brief statement that called for the investigation to proceed without outside interference.
Hickerson's attorney, Sloan Ellis, shared the statement with TMZ on Thursday. "Hayden's death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play," Ellis said. "Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Panettiere died Sunday at the age of 36. She was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the Nashville and Remember the Titans actress was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary autopsy results found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, according to Fox News Digital.
The Greenville Police Department told Fox News Digital it is not participating in media interviews regarding the case. In a statement, the department said its response follows standard procedure for death investigations. "The GPD response is the same as in all death investigations. The Police Department works with the Coroner's Office, receives its findings, reviews the facts and evidence and then decides if a criminal investigation is warranted. There were no signs of foul play during the initial response and investigation," the statement read.
According to a police report obtained by Fox News Digital, Hickerson and his brother Zach called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive. Hickerson later handed authorities a bag of medication Panettiere had allegedly been taking. Hickerson was present at the apartment when she was found, and authorities executed a search warrant at the residence. The report noted that Zach appeared very emotional while paramedics worked to revive Panettiere.
On Wednesday, Fox News Digital reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration had been contacted and is assisting in the investigation. Also on Wednesday, Greenville police went to a South Carolina home linked to both Brian and Zach Hickerson. Officers appeared to be conducting a welfare check, but nobody answered the door. Two police cruisers were spotted at the address around 8 a.m. and again around 10 a.m.
Panettiere and Hickerson met through mutual friends in 2018, shortly after her split from former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Their relationship was described as on-again, off-again in the years that followed.
The investigation remains open. No charges have been filed.
