Brian Hickerson’s family home received an early-morning police visit Wednesday, only days after Hayden Panettiere died, though investigators are making clear the two events are not connected.
Greenville officers were sent to the South Carolina property for a welfare check at approximately 8:20 a.m., police confirmed.
“The call is unrelated to the Hayden Panettiere death investigation and did not require an incident report,” a police spokesperson told PEOPLE.
Page Six reported that officers tried several doors at the home but left after receiving no response.
Bar for fucking bar.
— shboogies (@shboogies) August 17, 2026
Hayden Panettiere perfectly describing what it’s like trying to survive an abusive relationship.
She did this interview months prior to her death, seemingly trying to separate from her abusive boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. He has been arrested for abusing her… pic.twitter.com/0S2KgXBTvK
The visit came after Hickerson, 37, and his brother Zach were reported to have been with Panettiere around the time she died Sunday.
Authorities said the Nashville star was found unresponsive at a Greenville residence around 1:50 p.m. First responders attempted lifesaving measures before she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. She was 36.
An official cause of death remains pending.
Hickerson and Panettiere had been linked on and off since 2018. Their relationship included multiple arrests involving domestic violence allegations. In 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner.
Hayden Panettiere’s on and off again boyfriend Brian Hickerson laughs as he tells TMZ reporter that he did in fact beat & abuse Hayden Panettiere.
— B. Wilkins lll (@ScummyMummy511) August 17, 2026
Remember we still don’t know the full story of her death so this is all speculation.
We don’t know if Brian Hickerson was involved… https://t.co/ME3zL8ZCn2 pic.twitter.com/fbytHyXJRT
Panettiere later said she had tried to approach their history differently after they reconnected.
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.