Hayden Panettiere passed away in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 16, and it seems the actress was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend at the time.
A law enforcement source told PEOPLE that Hickerson was with Panettiere at the time of her death, but it’s unclear at this time if he was the one who called 911. In a statement, the Greenville Police Department said “an acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
The actress was found “unresponsive” at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, at around 1:50 p.m. local time, with emergency personnel administering “advanced cardiac life support” measures. The efforts were unsuccessful, and Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 PM. A spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department previously said in a statement that “the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.” Dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE had officials discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death.
Hayden Panettiere Kept Friends ‘In The Dark’ About Reunion With Brian Hickerson
According to a source who spoke with Page Six, Panettiere kept some of her friends “in the dark” about reconnecting with Hickerson due to the couple’s troubled past.
“If Brian was back in her life, then it was something she was hiding because she wasn’t speaking about it with many of her friends,” a source exclusively told Page Six. “If you’ve gone through some dark times with people, and spoken about it, then there can be shame if you get back together with that same person.
“So maybe that was why she hadn’t mentioned it to us.”
The couple began dating in 2018, but the relationship was plagued by multiple alleged incidents of domestic violence. However, the two sparked reconciliation rumors when they were spotted together at LAX airport in March, which is also when Panettiere was seen walking on crutches.
Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Wladimir Klitschko Pays Tribute
Wladimir Klitschko, a Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion and the ex of Panettiere, has shared a heartfelt tribute to the actress following her passing. The couple share a daughter.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” he began the Instagram post. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,” Klitschko continued. “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”
I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon. I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say,” he concluded. “Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden”
