New Details Emerge About Hayden Panettiere’s Final Hours Before Her Death at 36

17 August 2026

New details have emerged about the final hours of actress Hayden Panettiere, who died at the age of 36 while staying in Greenville, South Carolina, just days before what would have been her 37th birthday.

The Heroes and Nashville star had reportedly traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina on Saturday, August 15, with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson. The pair stayed at an Airbnb at the Judson Mill Lofts complex in Greenville, according to reports about the circumstances surrounding her death.

Residents told that Panettiere was not seen around the property after arriving. Details about exactly what occurred inside the residence remain limited, and authorities have not announced an official cause of death.

The following afternoon, emergency services were called to the property after receiving a report involving an unresponsive woman. First responders arrived at approximately 1:51 p.m. and found Panettiere in cardiac arrest. Medical personnel attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.

Dispatch communications reportedly referenced a possible overdose, but officials have stressed that the investigation remains active. An autopsy conducted by the Greenville County Coroner's Office found no signs of trauma that contributed to Panettiere's death. Authorities also said there was no initial indication of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Her official cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending additional investigation and testing. Hickerson was reportedly with Panettiere in South Carolina around the time of her death, although it has not been publicly confirmed who placed the emergency call.

Panettiere and Hickerson had a complicated history stretching back to 2018. Their relationship became the subject of considerable public attention following domestic violence allegations and Hickerson's legal troubles. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts related to injuring a spouse or girlfriend and later served jail time.

Panettiere addressed the relationship and other painful chapters of her life in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. She had also previously spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction, choosing to discuss experiences that were often intensely difficult and deeply personal.

Her death comes three years after another devastating loss for the Panettiere family. Her younger brother, actor and artist Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly in February 2023 at age 28 from complications related to an enlarged heart.

Despite the personal difficulties she faced, Panettiere maintained a career that began when she was a child. She became internationally recognized as Claire Bennet in Heroes before earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance as Juliette Barnes in Nashville. She also became a favorite among horror audiences through her portrayal of Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise.

Following confirmation of her death, tributes arrived from colleagues, friends and fans who remembered both her talent and the energy she brought to her performances. Panettiere leaves behind her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

As speculation continues surrounding the circumstances of her death, investigators have not yet reached a final conclusion. The completed autopsy found no contributing trauma, and authorities have said there is currently no indication of foul play. Until additional testing is completed, the precise cause of the actress's sudden death remains officially undetermined.