Brian Hickerson has been spotted outside his South Carolina home as scrutiny surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s death continues to intensify. The actress’ on-again, off-again boyfriend briefly emerged to retrieve a package from his porch before returning inside. His appearance comes as Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, publicly questions his account of her daughter’s final hours. Hickerson has not been accused of a crime in connection with Panettiere’s death. Authorities previously said their preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Hickerson was photographed stepping outside his residence to collect a plastic bag that had been left on the porch. He briefly looked toward photographers waiting outside before closing the door.
The sighting marks one of Hickerson’s first public appearances since Panettiere was found unresponsive at a temporary residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16.
Hickerson has largely remained out of public view and has not personally responded to the accusations made by Vogel. His attorney previously released a brief statement emphasizing that the investigation remains active and noting that police had found no evidence of foul play.
Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Has Questioned His Account
Vogel has raised questions about what happened during her daughter’s final hours and has challenged elements of the account attributed to Hickerson. During an interview with the Daily Mail, she claimed she told authorities that she believed Hickerson was “culpable.”
Vogel has also accused Hickerson of financially draining Panettiere after the actress allegedly hired him as an assistant. Those claims have not been proven, and Hickerson has not publicly responded to them.
Her mother previously described Panettiere and Hickerson as having a toxic “codependent bond” that was “much more powerful than people realized.”
Vogel also questioned how Hickerson could have been sleeping near the actress without realizing that something was wrong. However, the exact circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death remain under investigation.
Brian Hickerson’s Brother Described Their Final Moments With Hayden
Brian’s brother, Zach Hickerson, has shared his account of what happened before Panettiere was pronounced dead. “There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling. The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth,” Zach told TMZ.
He explained that he had exchanged messages with Brian on the morning of August 16 and planned to meet the couple after attending church. “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 recalled.
Zach said he knocked loudly at the residence and woke his brother before they attempted to wake Panettiere. “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,” he said.
The Brothers Reportedly Performed CPR
According to Zach, Brian administered Narcan while he contacted emergency services. “I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life,” he recalled.
Narcan is an opioid-overdose reversal medication. Its presence does not establish Panettiere’s cause of death, and toxicology results remain pending.
Zach said he was devastated by the loss of Panettiere, whom he described as one of his closest friends. “I am beyond heartbroken and devastated by this tragic and traumatic loss. Hayden was one of my dearest and closest friends that I loved and cared about for the last 8 years,” he said.
He also called for an end to the speculation surrounding her death. “Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation,” Zach concluded.
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause Of Death Remains Undetermined
Emergency personnel responded to a report of cardiac arrest at approximately 1:51 p.m. on August 16. First responders attempted to revive Panettiere, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. She was 36.
An autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said her official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional studies. Dispatch audio reportedly referenced a possible overdose, but authorities have not confirmed that narcotics caused Panettiere’s death.
Panettiere had traveled to South Carolina with Hickerson one day before her death. Both Brian and Zach were present at the residence when emergency personnel arrived. The investigation remains active, and officials have not announced any criminal charges or identified evidence of foul play.
