Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson was with actress when she died and showed cops ‘bag of medication’

HAYDEN Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was by her side when the star died – and showed police a “bag of medication” that she had been taking. Brian Hickerson did not become visibly emotional until EMS declared the 36-year-old actress dead, according to a heavily redacted report released by Greenville Police. Hayden Panettiere arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2009, in Los Angeles Credit: AP Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere Credit: Rex He was at the rented Airbnb flat in Greenville, South Carolina, where the beloved Nashville and Heroes star was found “unresponsive” on Sunday. Brian’s brother, Zach, also witnessed her death, and was “very emotional” as emergency medical services professionals were “working on Hayden.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Responding officer Matthew Bryan, said he first spoke with Zach at the scene, NBC News reported. The officer confirmed he was wearing a body camera throughout the emergency response. But the video recorded on that camera has not yet been publicly released. Hayden, who struggled with opioid and alcohol addiction, was described by the 911 dispatchers as suffering from a cardiac arrest and suspected overdose. Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, was discovered on the mattress of the apartment where she was staying, TMZ reported. Authorities have not determined that an overdose caused Hayden’s death, and the coroner’s findings remain pending. Most read in Showbiz An autopsy was completed on Monday, and officials said that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” First responders initiated cardiac life support measures when they arrived at the scene, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, the statement added. Hayden began dating South Carolina native Brian, 37, in 2018 – and the relationship sparked controversy almost immediately. When they were spotted for the very first time together partying at a bar in Malibu that year, an onlooker told Radar Online she was “drunk and vomiting” outside. Her family and friends were “deeply concerned,” a source told the outlet in November 2018. “They do not approve. They are hoping that this is something that she is going to evolve from.” They stayed together, and things went from bad to worse. In May 2019, Brian was arrested for domestic violence after an incident at the actress’ Hollywood home. Hayden allegedly sustained injuries to her arms, ears, and neck area. “He hit her on the face, causing her to get dizzy,” the prosecutor said at a court hearing. Responding officers claimed he actually beat her three separate times within two days that month. But just a few days after his arrest, they were spotted holding hands while shopping for new cars.