Hayden Panettiere Found Dead in Greenville Apartment; Investigation Ongoing

On a quiet August afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina, the entertainment world lost a familiar face. Hayden Panettiere, the 36‑year‑old actress best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was pronounced dead on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at a residential unit in the Judson Mill Lofts. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death at 2:32 p.m., noting that the cause and manner of death remain pending while laboratory tests are completed.

A preliminary coroner report released Aug. 17 stated that the autopsy found no signs of trauma that could have contributed to Panettiere’s death. Police investigators likewise found no evidence of foul play. An incident report obtained by E! News describes emergency medical services and firefighters performing CPR on Panettiere after she was found unresponsive. The responders continued life‑saving measures for an extended period before the medical team declared her deceased.

Panettiere was in the apartment with her on‑and‑off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson. According to the police report, Zach told the responding officer that Panettiere was Hickerson’s girlfriend. The officer escorted both men out of the apartment after the EMS crew declared her dead. Zach was described as “very emotional” during the emergency response, while Hickerson did not become emotional until the declaration of death.

The apartment’s address, 1234 Judson Mill Lofts, is a residential complex in Greenville. A 911 dispatch audio clip obtained by TMZ and People indicates that the dispatcher directed medics to the address and that an EMS worker mentioned “overdose” and “CPR in progress.” No official source has confirmed an overdose as the cause of death. The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation, according to an ABC News report.

Panettiere’s family confirmed her death to ABC News on the evening of Sunday, Aug. 16. Her father, Skip Panettiere, made the announcement. The actress’s career included a 2006–2010 run on Heroes, a 2012–2018 stint on Nashville, and voice work on the Kingdom Hearts video‑game series.

Brian Hickerson and Zach Hickerson have a long history with Panettiere. The couple began dating in 2018, and the relationship had been described as “on‑and‑off” for the remainder of her life. In 2019, Panettiere was photographed holding hands with Zach in New York, during a period when Hickerson was under a court order that required him to stay at least 100 yards away from her after a domestic‑violence arrest. The 2019 case was dismissed, but Hickerson was later sentenced to 45 days in jail in April 2021 for two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.

After his release, Hickerson and Panettiere reunited as friends, and he later joined her at her brother Jansen Panettiere’s funeral in March 2023. Both Hickerson and his brother were present in the apartment when Panettiere died.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has not released a final cause of death. The coroner’s office said the autopsy was completed and that the investigation is “active and ongoing.” The coroner’s office also noted that the preliminary investigation found no signs of trauma or foul play.

The case has drawn attention from the entertainment community, with several industry figures expressing condolences. No statements have yet been released by Hickerson’s attorneys or by Zach Hickerson.

At this time, the investigation remains open. The coroner’s office, Greenville City Police Department, and the DEA are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death. No definitive cause or manner of death has been announced.

The entertainment industry has lost a versatile performer whose work spanned television, film, and video games. As the investigation proceeds, further details are expected to emerge.