Hayden Panettiere Death Probe: DEA Investigates Boyfriend Brian Hickerson

Hayden Panettiere died at age 36 from a suspected overdose on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, prompting concurrent investigations by local police, the coroner’s office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Federal Narcotics Investigation and Local Police Probe

The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined local law enforcement agencies in examining the circumstances surrounding the death of Panettiere, according to reports from TMZ and the New York Daily News. First responders arrived at a Greenville apartment on Sunday following a 911 dispatch call reporting a cardiac arrest. Paramedics discovered the actress unresponsive in an armchair and located Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal spray, at the scene, according to Daily Mail coverage. The Greenville Police Department and the county coroner’s office are running parallel investigations into the fatal incident. Investigators are currently zeroing in on a potential drug dealer connected to the case, as reported by the New York Daily News.

Family Statements and Background Context

Lesley Vogel, the mother of Panettiere, spoke out about the tragedy and confirmed the involvement of a narcotics investigator. In an interview with NBC News, Vogel stated, It leads me to believe they have questions, which of course they all do, but they are instigating this. Vogel also noted that she remains uncertain of where the investigation currently stands.

According to police reports cited by the Daily Mail, Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-off romantic partner, was present at the Greenville apartment when the actress was declared dead, just five days before her 37th birthday. Vogel expressed sharp concern over Hickerson’s presence, telling NBC News, This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson. Panettiere and Hickerson shared a turbulent relationship marked by domestic violence incidents between 2018 and 2022, which resulted in Hickerson serving jail time before the two were seen spending time together again in recent months.

Reflecting on her daughter’s career in the entertainment industry, Vogel added, I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry, it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path. Vogel is also grieving the loss of her son Jansen, who died in 2023 at the age of 28, remarking to NBC News, I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace.