Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson allegedly gave her Narcan: Report
Hayden Panettierre death: DEA joins investigation
The DEA has joined the multi-agency investigation into the death of Hayden Panettiere. TMZ’s Michael Babcock joined LiveNOW’s Mike Pache to talk about the latest developments in the story. The pair also discussed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move back to the UK.
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, allegedly gave her Narcan after he and his brother, Zach Hickerson, found her unconscious on August 16, 2026, Zach told TMZ.
Hayden’s boyfriend administered Narcan
Dig deeper:
Zach allegedly went to the couple’s Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday after church when he did not hear from them, despite speaking to his brother earlier that day, he told TMZ.
When he arrived, Zach woke Brian from a nap and the brothers found Panettiere unconscious.
Zach proceeded to call 911 as Brian administered Narcan through Panettiere’s nose, TMZ reported.
Zach Hickerson walks into his a home in Greenville, SC. Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Zach Hickerson's brother, Brian. Hickerson was the on-again, off-again partner of the late actress, Hayden Panattiere who died on Sunday. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digi
What they're saying:
"Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation," Zach’s statement to TMZ said in part.
RELATED: Hayden Panettiere boyfriend Brian Hickerson’s attorney issues statement on her death: Report
Hayden Panettiere dies Sunday
The backstory:
Panettiere died on Sunday, a day after departing from Los Angeles on a plane with Brian, TMZ reported.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her -- and to the millions who watched her onscreen," Panetierre’s representative told ABC News.
RELATED: Hayden Panettiere would have been 37 today: Latest on her death
Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday, the Greenville Police Department said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
Life-saving measures were performed, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.
Police said an acquaintance of the 36-year-old actress called 911 from the apartment complex.
Hayden Panettiere’s preliminary autopsy released
The next day, on Monday, Panettiere’s preliminary autopsy results were released and found no signs of trauma contributed to her death.
RELATED: Hayden Panettiere's preliminary autopsy released: What it says
"First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest," the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. "EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM."
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department launched parallel investigations into her death.
"At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," the coroner's statement continued. "The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies."
Sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that Brian and Panettiere were both inside an Airbnb in Greenville, when Brian's brother entered the residence and found Panettiere in a chair in the living room.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a TMZ exclusive report and previous reporting by FOX Local. This story was reported from San Jose.