Federal agents reportedly entered Hayden Panettiere's home in West Hollywood on Tuesday evening, nine days after she was found dead inside an Airbnb in South Carolina, aged 36.
The Heroes actress had released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, just months earlier, detailing her struggles with mental health issues, addiction and abuse. A witness inside her building told Us Weekly that a group of federal agents entered her home with a search warrant on Tuesday, as part of the ongoing investigation into her untimely death.
Inside the investigation
© FilmMagicA spokesperson confirmed via a statement at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
"The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call," they shared.
Brian Hickerson speaks out
© GC ImagesA police report then revealed that Hayden's on-and-off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were in the Airbnb with Hayden when she passed.
Brian's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, spoke out about his alleged involvement in the case, sharing: "Hayden's death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed."
Learn more about Hayden's struggles below...
"As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time." The late star's representative also urged people not to jump to conclusions before police had completed their investigation.
"Many people who were not close to Hayden are using her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation about a situation they knew very little about," they said. "It is deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are actively grieving this tremendous loss."
"There is much more to this story than what is currently being discussed publicly, and those closest to Hayden are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure that the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served."
Her final moments
Brian's brother, Zach Hickerson, broke his silence just days after Hayden's death, revealing that he and Brian found her unresponsive and attempted to administer Narcan.
© Zach Hickerson"When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious," he claimed to TMZ. "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."
Zach added: "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 eight years." Neither Brian nor Zach have been implicated in Hayden's death.
A toxic dynamic
© GC ImagesThe former child star previously opened up about her fraught relationship with Brian, who was convicted of two felony counts of corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant in 2021 and spent 13 days in jail.
"Getting an abusive person out of your life is like trying to rip a weed out that is so entangled into your life," she told Us Weekly. "Every time you pull it out, another weed pops back up, and you're like, 'I thought I killed this.' They always manage to find a way to slither back into your life, even if you're an incredibly strong-willed person."
