Hayden Panettiere Death

Hayden Panettiere's shocking death is getting more heartbreaking by the day ... because it's being reported she had sweet birthday plans this week with her daughter.

Hayden would have turned 37 on Friday ... and Page Six reports that she was planning to visit her 11-year-old Kaya in Germany for a fun bash.

It seems the trip had been in the works for a while and was planned to coincide with her birthday ... and she was telling her inner circle how excited she was to see her little one ... and celebrate another year around the sun.

Hayden Panettiere's death is on the feds' radar ... TMZ has learned the DEA has joined the multi-agency investigation.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has agents assisting the parallel death investigations already underway ... according to our sources with direct knowledge of the probe. As we first reported, Greenville PD and the coroner's office are conducting parallel investigations ... and the DEA jumping on the case as well makes sense.

Remember, paramedics are heard telling a dispatcher Hayden had suffered a possible "overdose." Also, TMZ broke the story ... Narcan -- an over-the-counter OD treatment -- was found in the apartment where Hayden died.

Gayle King is unhappy with a statement from Hayden Panettiere's mother in the aftermath of her daughter's tragic death ... saying it's a huge missed opportunity.

The longtime television host read Lesley Vogel's statement live on "CBS Mornings" ... Lesley's comments focused on how child stardom led her estranged daughter down a dark path -- and she took some veiled shots at Hayden's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.

After reading the statement live on-air, Gayle said ... "You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, 'Thanks, mom, for nothing.'"

8/20/2026 11:41 AM PT -- Brian Hickerson is speaking out days after the death of Hayden Panettiere.

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson is surfacing for the first time since her tragic death ... and it looks like he's still in shock.

A solemn Brian stepped outside Wednesday in South Carolina wearing a cap and shades ... just days after Hayden died in a nearby housing complex.

TMZ broke the story ... Brian was with Hayden when she died ... he was asleep in the other room when his brother, Zach, swung by their Airbnb and found her unresponsive.

Hayden Panettiere's mother says cops are taking a hard look at drug use in the police investigation into her death ... even bringing in a narcotics investigator to help.

Lesley Vogel told NBC News Wednesday that she's been informed cops are investigating the death ... adding she's even been told they brought in a narco detective.

She doesn't know where they're at in the investigation necessarily ... but Lesley adds the authorities seem to have quite a few questions regarding Hayden's death.

Police are not satisfied Hayden Panettiere's death was a tragic overdose of prescribed meds, because they are trying to determine if there could be criminal conduct behind it.

Law enforcement sources involved in the case tell TMZ they are conducting a death investigation to see if some illegality is behind the 36-year-old's death.

As we reported, the Greenville PD showed up Wednesday morning at the family home of her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. It would appear police want information from Brian regarding any circumstances that might be connected to Hayden's death.

Neutrogena continues to get lit up by Hayden Panettiere fans ... and now the skincare company's Instagram is being turned into a shrine of sorts.

Here's the deal ... Hayden was the face of the brand for years before being unceremoniously dropped, allegedly because she made public comments about her postpartum depression ... and after her shocking death, fans have their claws out -- calling for a boycott.

Beyond inundating Neutrogena IG posts with venomous comments about Hayden's treatment -- fans have been leaving under-the-radar tributes and shaming the brand on the clearly unmonitored -- and often forgotten about -- "Tagged" section of its IG page.

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend's family was visited by some of Greenville's finest early Wednesday morning ... with cops spotted knocking on their door.

Two uniformed officers were photographed Wednesday morning at the Hickerson home. One knocked on the front door while another walked up their driveway.

It's unclear why they paid the Hickersons a visit ... or if anyone ultimately let them in.

Hayden Panettiere noticeably "moved a little slower for her age" on the set of her final film ... at least according to her costar.

Lori Tan Chinn told Page Six she noticed Hayden moving slowly on set in late 2025 when they were filming "Sleepwalker," claiming Hayden was "careful not to injure herself" and "moved a little slower for her age."

Still, Lori said she never heard Hayden mention any sort of pain.

Remember ... Hayden told photogs at LAX in March she was dealing with a pinched nerve ... and our sources told us she had some back pain in the months leading up to her death.

Hayden Panettiere's remains have been released from a South Carolina coroner's office -- and are now in the hands of her family, TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Greenville Coroner's Office tells TMZ ... the actress' body was transferred Tuesday night to a mortuary chosen by Hayden's family. The coroner's rep would not disclose the mortuary's name, leaving that up to the discretion of the family.

As we reported ... the family was notified Tuesday that Hayden's remains were ready for release after she had died from a possible drug overdose.  

Steven Tyler and Hayden Panettiere stayed close after working together on "Nashville" ... and the rocker is shocked by the loss.

A photog got the Aerosmith frontman while he was out on Tuesday ... and at first it seemed like he didn't want to talk -- but then Hayden was mentioned.

Check out the video ... the two clearly formed a bond while working together on the popular ABC series -- where Tyler did a few guest appearances as himself.

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson faced serious money issues during their on-again, off-again relationship ... TMZ has learned. 

TMZ obtained a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition filed by Brian on July 18, 2022, listing assets totaling $25,700 and liabilities totaling around $60k.

He said his monthly expenses totaled $1,248 per month, but his average monthly income was zero. Brian listed his assets as a 1990 Ford Bronco with 160k miles worth $3k, an "inoperable" 2008 Toyota Prius worth $2k, a Harley-Davidson worth $3k, and a Chevrolet Silverado truck worth $8k. Brian said the truck was his dad’s, but it was in his name.

The petition says pretty much the only other property he owned was an iPhone and printer worth $1,250, $2k in clothing, and $100 in jewelry. The paperwork said he had $6,250 in his checking account.

Brian Hickerson's brother made the shocking discovery of an unresponsive Hayden Panettiere on Sunday ... and he was just spotted out for the first time since the tragedy ... and only TMZ has the photos.

Check out the pics ... a clearly somber Zach Hickerson is picking up food from a South Carolina pizza joint ... and he clearly has a lot on his mind.

TMZ broke the story ... Brian and Hayden were both inside an Airbnb in Greenville on Sunday afternoon when Zach entered the residence and found Hayden in a chair in the living room, suffering cardiac arrest while Brian was asleep in a separate room.

Police in South Carolina are trying to get their hands on surveillance footage that's said to show Hayden Panettiere entering and exiting the apartment complex where she died, TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the Greenville Police Department's heavily redacted incident report, which reveals the complex's courtesy officer has CCTV footage of Hayden, her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach on the premises.

A responding officer wrote ... "I spoke with the courtesy officer of Judson Mills and he advised he has CCTV footage of all three individuals coming and going. He will be doing a supplemental report and uploading that footage."

Hayden Panettiere's final animal-rights campaign has been released following her death -- the actress filmed the powerful spot just two weeks before she suffered cardiac arrest and died.

PETA unveiled the campaign Tuesday, showing the late "Heroes" star naked in a bathtub, speaking out against marine parks and dolphins and whales being held in captivity.

Hayden used the bathtub to make a strong, simple point ... imagining spending an entire lifetime confined to a space that small ... similar to marine mammals living in tanks.

Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, allegedly sent her threatening text messages after his 2020 arrest for domestic battery ... years before she spoke out about forgiving him.

TMZ obtained court docs filed in Brian's 2020 criminal case, which show alleged threats he sent to Hayden after his arrest.

Brian was arrested on February 14, 2020, after he allegedly struck Hayden in the face with a closed fist at an Airbnb in Wyoming. Officers say they arrived to find Brian intoxicated and locked out of the home.