Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was spotted for the first time since the actress’s tragic death on Sunday.
The actor was photographed getting into a car with his brother, Zach, in Greenville, South Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon.
He kept a low profile, wearing sunglasses, a hat, a white T-shirt and a sweatshirt.
Page Six confirmed that Hickerson was staying at his grandmother’s house after Panettiere’s death.
On Wednesday morning, officers arrived at the home for a welfare check around 8:20 a.m. local time but didn’t receive a response.
About an hour and a half later, officers returned and went toward the back of the home, where they stayed for 10 minutes before leaving.
Page Six can also confirm that Zach was home at the time.
An insider exclusively told Page Six that Panettiere, who was 36, and Hickerson had just reconnected two weeks before she passed away.
The exes flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before the “Bring It On” star died, with our source explaining that “Brian would always find a way to work his way back into Hayden’s life as ‘a friend.’”
Our insider labeled Hickerson as “bad news” and “a real jerk,” saying Panettiere’s closest friends were “always concerned” when they were together.
The duo started dating in 2018, and their relationship was plagued by domestic violence, with Hickerson first being arrested in May 2019. At the time, Hickerson pleaded not guilty to domestic violence, and the charges were dropped against him.
However, they entered a pattern of domestic abuse, as Hickerson was once again arrested for two separate incidents in December 2019 and January 2020.
At the time, Los Angeles prosecutors accused Hickerson of using a garage floor and stairs to cause injury to the “Remember the Titans” star.
Hickerson was also arrested in February 2020 for allegedly punching Panettiere in the face, which the latter once described as a wake-up call.
That July, prosecutors filed eight counts against Hickerson, accusing him of several felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, battery and corporal injury. He pleaded no contest to two charges of injuring a spouse or cohabitant, and the others were dismissed.
As a result, Hickerson received 45 days of jail time, four years of probation, was ordered to take domestic violence classes, and a five-year protective order. A request to reduce his past charges was denied by a judge earlier this month.
The last time Hickerson and Panettiere were seen together was in March, when they were photographed at Los Angeles International Airport.
Just a few months after, the “Heroes” alum got candid about how her “abusers” would “always find their way back into [her] life” when she “found the strength to get away” during an appearance on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast.
Talking about how Hickerson allegedly became violent while under the influence, she said in May, “Once he was sober, that good part of him would be back, and he would see the damage he had done, and he was devastated and apologetic.”
“And it seemed so honest and genuine that I was torn,” she explained. “I thought back to everything I’ve done wrong in the past and the forgiveness I was shown.”
Panettiere — who previously battled anxiety, addiction and postpartum depression — described the “dizzying cycle” as her fear of being alone and wanting to make her ex “a better person.”
Hickerson admitted to his abusive behavior in an interview with TMZ in May, also detailing how he regretted his behavior and his struggle with addiction.
On Sunday, Panettiere was reportedly found unconscious following a suspected “overdose” in a South Carolina Airbnb by Brian’s brother, Zach Hickerson. Brian was allegedly asleep in another room.
First responders attempted to resuscitate Panettiere but were unable to. She was declared dead at 2:32 p.m.
The Disney alum is survived by her daughter, Kaya, 11, whom she shares with her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Read the full article here
