In Hayden Panettiere's memoir, This is Me: A Reckoning, eleased only months before her passing, she bravely wrote of the alleged abuse she faced at the hands of Brian Hickerson, claiming that Brian once beat her so badly she did not leave the house for weeks.
Now, the contents of a 2020 restraining order filed by Hayden in Wyoming have been released, revealing allegations of horrifying abuse at the hands of Brian, with Hayden claiming that "when alcohol is involved [Brian] pulls my hair, swings me around and hits me, spits in my face."
The actress also alleged that he "dumped water over me while I'm in bed" and "[threw] objects at my face."
© GC ImagesSeen by the Daily Mail, the original petition for the temporary order of protection was filed in Teton County, Wyoming on February 17, 2020, days after Hickerson was arrested for domestic battery on February 14, 2020 – Valentine's Day. Hayden also filed an out-of-state protective order in California.
The incident report for that day was written by the officer who responded to the domestic dispute that occurred at an Airbnb.
The officer described Hayden's face as "red and swollen," as well as having a "fresh scrape and swelling on the top of her left hand, and wrote that Hayden had accused Brian of "throwing [her] around" and striking her "with a closed fist on the right side of her face."
Hickerson pleaded not guilty to the charge in April 2020.
© GC ImagesThree months later, a July 2020 criminal indictment – stemming from alleged incidents that took place between May 2019 to January 2020 – revealed he had been arrested on multiple felony charges, including four charges of corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, two charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and one of intimidating a witness.
"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," Hayden said at the time.
"I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I'm grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life."
© InstagramIn April 2021, Brian pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant, and was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution and a five-year protective order.
Yet by 2023 the pair had reunited, and Brian attended the celebration of life event for Hayden's younger brother Jansen on March 8, 2023 in New York.
Hayden, a child star, who found fame in the superhero drama Heroes, and in the country music series Nashville, died on August 16, 2026, after a decades-long battle with substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health disorders.
She welcomed her beloved daughter Kaya, in 2014 during her relationship with ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, but in 2018 gave over full custody to Wladimir, after a private and terrifying battle with postpartum depression.
© Zach HickersonBrian was with her at the time of her death, as was his brother Zach.
In a statement, Zach alleged that he visited their Airbnb on August 16, and discovered the pair asleep. He woke Brian, who could not wake Hayden. Brian then administered Narcan, a nasal spray designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, as Zach called 911 and the pair performed CPR.
© Getty ImagesThe use of Narcan — which can be purchased over the counter – and its immediate availability suggests the brothers traveled with it, purchased it in South Carolina, or Hayden had it on her person.
A heavily redacted police report previously revealed that Brian gave local officers a "bag of medication" that Hayden was taking at the time of her death.
Toxicology reports and an official cause of death remain pending.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
