Cops seen arriving at Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson’s family home days after actress’ death

By Alejandra García August 19, 2026

Cops showed up to Brian and Zach Hickerson’s grandmother’s home in Greenville, South Carolina for a welfare check — days after Hayden Panettiere was found dead at a nearby Airbnb.

Two cars with the Greenville Police Department arrived at the property belonging to Betty Ellison on Wednesday at 8:20 a.m., Page Six can exclusively reveal.

An officer approached the residence and repeatedly knocked on the front door but received no response. Simultaneously, her colleague tried the side door.

We can confirm that Zach, 38, was home at the time.

Cops showed up to Brian and Zach Hickerson’s grandmother’s home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Wednesday morning. NY POST
Two cars with the Greenville Police Department arrived at the property belonging to Betty Ellison on Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. We can confirm Zach was home at the time. NY POST

The officers left the property — which both Brian, 37, and Zach were pictured at on Tuesday — after around three minutes.

The officers returned around an hour and a half later and went around the back to “conduct a welfare check,” though they did not specify the individual or individuals involved.

They left around 10 minutes later.

Ellison’s four-bedroom home — which had its blinds closed all morning — is about five miles away from the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex where Panettiere, 36, died of a suspected “overdose” on Sunday afternoon.

Ellison’s residence — which had its blinds closed all morning — is about five miles away from the Airbnb where Panettiere died of a suspected “overdose” on Sunday afternoon. NY POST
An officer approached the home and repeatedly knocked on the front door. Christopher Oquendo

When reached for comment, a rep for GPD echoed the “welfare check” explanation to Page Six, while the Hickerson brothers have not responded to our repeated inquiries.

Just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, cops and medical personnel responded to the Airbnb where Panettiere “had been temporarily staying” after receiving a call about a woman who was in apparent “cardiac arrest.”

Brian — whose years-long relationship with the actress was marked by multiple allegations of domestic violence, several arrests and even criminal pleas — was reportedly asleep in the bedroom when Zach entered the unit and found Panettiere “unresponsive” in a chair in the living room.

Simultaneously, her colleague tried the side door. NY POST
The officers did not make contact with anyone inside the house. NY POST

According to the incident report, Zach described Panettiere to police as his “brother’s girlfriend,” though the exact nature of their on-again, off-again relationship remains unclear. Brian — who has struggled with addiction — then showed officers a “bag of medication” the “Heroes” star had allegedly been taking.

As first responders “initiated advanced cardiac life support measures” on Panettiere, Zach became “very emotional.”

However, the team’s “resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful,” per the coroner’s office. Panettiere — a former child star who was open about her struggles with anxiety, alcoholism, opioid addiction and postpartum depression — was pronounced dead just after 2:30 p.m., at which point Brian, 37, became “emotional.”

The officers left the property after around three minutes but returned around an hour and a half later and went around the back to “conduct a welfare check.” Christopher Oquendo
The officers did not specify the individual or individuals involved. They left around 10 minutes later. Christopher Oquendo

According to the autopsy report, “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” However, the investigation into the cause and manner remains “active and ongoing” as the coroner awaits toxicology results.

Narcan — an emergency medication used to reverse an opioid overdose — was reportedly found inside the Airbnb.

Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whose father is her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Both Brian and Zach (pictured) were seen at the residence on Tuesday. Robin Rayne for NYPost
Brian, who had a years-long abusive relationship with Panettiere, and Zach are brothers. Zach Hickerson/Instagram
The actress (pictured with Brian) died of a suspected “overdose” at the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex. / SplashNews.com

Though she was estranged from her mother, Lesley Vogel, at the time of her death, the latter still raised concerns about her daughter’s historically abusive relationship with Brian.

“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” the grieving mom told NBC News in part.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).


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