One month after Hayden Panettiere died at 36 inside a Greenville, South Carolina residence, her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson briefly addressed the press for the first time. Asked how he was holding up outside a gas station on September 16, Hickerson responded,“How do you think I’m doing?”A source close to the situation confirmed he accepted condolences before ending the interaction quickly.
The official answer on what caused Panettiere’s death is still pending. Investigators found no signs of trauma, and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office is waiting on toxicology results. A TMZ report claimed police suspect a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill was involved, but Panettiere’s spokesperson called that claim unverified hearsay based on unnamed sources. Meanwhile, Hickerson and his brother Zach were both present at the scene that day, and both were involved in a September 12 bar altercation after being heckled about her death.
For fans who grew up with the late actress on Heroes and Nashville, this month has brought more questions than closure. With toxicology still outstanding and conflicting reports circulating, the full story is far from settled.
What do you think is fair to the family while we wait for official answers?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.