From ‘secret romance’ to mystery meds – the unanswered questions swirling around Hayden Panettiere’s tragic death

HAYDEN Panettiere‘s life was plagued by “inner demons” – from years of childhood trauma, addiction and family heartache. But earlier this year it seemed things might finally be looking up for the Hollywood star. Promoting her best-seller memoir on Jay Shetty’s podcast, Hayden declared she had “a lot more life to live”. But in a tragic and shocking twist, that interview would be her last. Hayden said she had ‘a lot more life to live’ in a final interview Credit: Youtube/Jay Shetty Podcast Hayden died aged 36 at a South Carolina Airbnb on Sunday Credit: Getty The Heroes and Nashville actress was found unresponsive in a luxury Airbnb in South Carolina on Sunday before being pronounced dead at 2.32pm. Questions are now swirling over the circumstances of Hayden’s death as investigators scramble to piece together her fateful last moments. Sudden public appearance cancellations, a curious bag of medication at the scene and a rumoured love triangle all add to the mystery. Hayden, 36, who struggled with opioid and alcohol addiction, was described by the 911 dispatchers as suffering from a cardiac arrest and a suspected overdose. Hayden was described by 911 dispatchers as suffering from a cardiac arrest Credit: AP Emergency services were called to a unit at the Judson Mill Lofts, in South Carolina Credit: Google Earth Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, was discovered on the mattress of the apartment where she was staying, TMZ reported. Authorities are yet to confirm an overdose caused Hayden’s death, as the coroner’s findings remain pending. Detectives have said a preliminary investigation hasn’t indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Stunned neighbours said they were surprised to learn the star had been in their building, telling media they had “no idea she was there” and that she likely “never left” the rental. A police report reveals Brian Hickerson (left) and his brother Zach were with actress when she died Credit: Instagram/zach_hickerson321 Brian and Hayden had an on-and-off relationship until 2020 Credit: Eric Charbonneau/REX Just weeks earlier Hayden had cancelled a scheduled public appearance at a horror convention after a “family emergency”. The exact circumstances of the apparent emergency remain unclear – but it forced Hayden to be a no-show at Creep I.E. Con. Hayden’s on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were by her side when the star died, according to police bodycam footage that is yet to be released to the public. Brian showed officers a mystery bag of medication that Hayden was taking at the time of her death, NBC News reported. Zach was “very emotional” as emergency medical services professionals were “working on Hayden.” According to TMZ, Zach actually first discovered Hayden sitting in a chair in the living room when he entered the home on Sunday afternoon. Responding officer Matthew Bryan said he first spoke with Zach at the scene. Brian had been asleep in a separate room at the time, the outlet reported. He did not become visibly emotional until paramedics declared the actress dead, according to a heavily redacted report released by Greenville Police. Hayden with her mother Lesley Vogel in 2009 before the pair became estranged Credit: Getty Speaking out after her daughter’s death, Lesley described Hayden as ‘amazingly talented’ Credit: Getty Hayden’s relationship with Brian was highly volatile, spanning from 2018 until her death, and involved multiple domestic violence arrests, jail time and a rumoured secret reconciliation recently. But it has now emerged that Hayden was also romantically linked to his brother, the Daily Mail reports. On Tuesday, Hayden’s estranged mother Lesley Vogel shared her first comments since her daughter’s death. She told 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. “There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.” Vogel also said that Hayden and Brian were still together at the time her daughter died, despite reports they had called it quits. The pair were together from 2018 until 2020 before Brian was arrested, convicted and jailed for domestic abuse against the actress. He served only one day of a 45-day jail term and the couple reconnected in 2021 before reportedly getting into another physical spat at a bar in West Hollywood. Hayden and Brian seen on January 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California Credit: Getty Hayden was spotted holding hands with her boyfriend’s brother, Zach in September 2019 Credit: Goff Photos Brian recently confessed to a horrifying domestic violence incident saying: “I was drunk. “Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, ‘Uh, Hayden I’ll give you ten seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you.’” Soon after the second incident, Hayden released a statement to her fans about his past arrests. “I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said. But just four months after getting a restraining order against him, Hayden was spotted holding hands with Brian’s brother. Hayden was smiling and laughing as she held hands with Zach in the surprising pictures. The Daily Mail reports that the Heroes actress was romantically linked to Zach while Brian was locked up in 2019. Zach refused to comment when the outlet put the claims to him outside his South Carolina home. Hayden and her brother Jansen who died in 2023 Credit: Getty Hayden and her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko with their young daughter Credit: instagram/@klitschko Hayden and Brian kept a low profile during the final years of her life. He was spotted attending her brother Jansen’s funeral by her side in 2023. He was also seen helping her through a Los Angeles airport while she hobbled on crutches in March of this year. When the actress released her memoir earlier this year, it was reported that they had split long ago. But according to TMZ, the couple were still together and hiding the romance. “Hayden’s team felt Brian was bad for business,” a source told the outlet. Hayden, born in New York, first hit the screens as an 11-month-old baby when her mum took her to star in several TV commercials. The diminutive 5ft actress quickly became one of America’s most promising stars after her role in the Pixar film A Bug’s Life. On Tuesday, Hayden’s mum said: “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.” Lesley acted as Hayden’s manager throughout her childhood. When the Heroes actress turned 19, she asked Lesley to step down and just be a parental figure, to which she allegedly responded: “You owe me.” Away from the beaming studio lights, Hayden was fighting several painful battles behind the scenes. The actress recalled earlier this year about a traumatic experience which saw a glamorous boat party take a sinister turn. Hayden, here in 2024, was believed to be single in her final years – but sources said she was secretly still with Brian Credit: Getty Hayden and Brian were last seen together in March 2026 at LAX Airport Credit: BackGrid Hayden told On Purpose with Jay Shetty she was lured down into a cabin and ordered to get into bed with a very famous – and entirely naked – older male actor. She was just 18 years old at the time and said: “It was as close to being human trafficked as I have ever experienced.” Describing the evening as a “betrayal”, Hayden said nothing happened in the room as she managed to escape and hide away. Hayden had publicly spoken about her difficulties with mental health and addiction, but had been sober since spending weeks in rehab. A serious bout of postpartum depression led to her giving up custody of her daughter, Kaya, then 11, in 2018. Kaya’s dad is retired Ukrainian professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with whom Hayden had an on-and-off relationship between 2009 and 2018. The pair – who had a 14-year age gap – were engaged from 2013 but split up before tying the knot. Tragedy struck once again in 2023 after the death of her younger brother Jansen who was aged just 28. Also a budding actor, Jansen suddenly died after suffering from cardiomegaly, known as an enlarged heart, coupled with aortic valve complications. Hayden, who is believed to have seen his body before police arrived, told People magazine she felt like she had “lost half of her soul” when Jansen died. The star’s heartbroken dad Skip Panettiere was the first to confirm the heartbreaking news of her death. He said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. “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 on screen.”