Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Fiance Wants to Know If Brian Hickerson Played a ‘Role’ In Her Death

Wladimir Klitschko wants the negative influences in ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere‘s life to be held fully accountable in the wake of her tragic death, a source tells In Touch.

On Sunday, August 16, the Nashville star, who long struggled with opioid and alcohol addiction, was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina apartment — and despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at the age of 35 after suffering an apparent overdose.

“The police are investigating the circumstances of her death and like everyone that loved her, Wladimir wants answers,” reveals the source. “He is heartbroken and angry that his daughter will now have to grow up without her mother and if anyone is responsible for her death, he wants that person to face consequences.”

Panettiere and Klitschko, 50, were engaged for five years before splitting in 2018 and share 11-year-old daughter Kaya, who lives in Ukraine with the former heavyweight boxing champion.

“There are still a lot of questions about what exactly happened, so right now the big push is to get to the bottom of things, and Wladimir has promised that he won’t let up until the truth comes out,” the source says.

In the days following her passing, NBC News reported that Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were at the apartment when she died.

Throughout their relationship, Brian, 37, faced several domestic violence charges, most recently in 2021, when he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, of which he served 13.

“Obviously, the fact that Brian was there with her when she died is not going unnoticed,” says the source. “It’s no secret that no one in her life approved of this relationship, that’s why she was so secretive about it.”

According to the Tuesday, August 19 edition of Rob Shuter‘s Naughty But Nice Substack, Hickerson has retained an attorney and is no longer fully cooperating with police.

“The investigation is just getting started, but Wladimir is not going to rest until he gets answers about what happened,” declares In Touch‘s source, “including exactly what role Brian may have played and whether anyone around Hayden enabled her addiction or failed to protect her.”

Hickerson broke his silence on Panettiere’s death on Thursday, August 20, via a statement from his attorney, Sloan Ellis, telling TMZ:  “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.”

“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,” the statement continued. “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”