Hayden Panettiere Death

Madeline Zima -- one of Hayden Panettiere's co-stars on the hit show "Heroes" back in the day -- says the actress was incredibly kind ... and she's speaking out in hopes Hayden's daughter will one day know how great her mom was.

We sat down with Madeline on our "TMZ In The Know" YouTube series ... and she told us she remembers Hayden as someone who was all heart and guts.

Madeline notes she's been in the film and TV world for a long time -- starring in "The Nanny" when she was just 8 years old -- and she calls Hayden one of the kindest and most loving people she's met in the industry.

A neighbor of Hayden Panettiere says she witnessed the late actress being taken from her West Hollywood apartment on a gurney by firefighters on two occasions during her troubled relationship with Brian Hickerson.

Mia Terrazas says she saw the incidents in July 2023 and January 2024, claiming Hayden appeared to have bruises and red marks while Brian was nearby both times, during an interview with Page Six.

The worried neighbor said she asked Hayden if she was OK during the first incident and the actress allegedly replied, "Yes." Mia told the outlet “It appeared that she had been beaten up. It wasn’t apparent to me that it could have been anything else" -- adding Hayden allegedly frequently appeared “battered.”

Melissa Gilbert is sounding the alarm after the recent deaths of Hayden Panettiere, Daveigh Chase and Michelle Trachtenberg ... saying Hollywood has to do far more to protect child actors once the cameras stop rolling.

The “Little House on the Prairie” alum shared an emotional essay Saturday, saying the losses hit close to home because she sees herself in the women -- all former child performers navigating the harsh realities of growing up in the spotlight.

Hayden passed away on August 16 at the age of 36, while Chase -- best known for “The Ring” and “Lilo & Stitch” died in June at 35, and the 'Buffy' and “Gossip Girl” star Trachtenberg died at 39 in 2025.

Hayden Panettiere's mom says she gave the cops a little push to investigate her daughter's death ... which included her instantly placing blame on Brian Hickerson.

Lesley Vogel opened up about her daughter's death during an interview with The Daily Mail -- published Saturday -- in which she revealed she spoke with an officer at the scene of Hayden's death to inquire whether there would be further investigation.

Lesley says the officer specifically asked about Brian ... to which she says she replied, "I think he's culpable."

Hayden Panettiere's mom says she's glad her late daughter's estate will likely go to Kaya -- Hayden's 11-year-old daughter ... adding she's truly "exceptional."

Lesley Vogel sat down for a wide-ranging interview with The Daily Mail, published Saturday ... in which she touched on what may happen to the assets Hayden left behind.

While Lesley doesn't seem to know any specific details regarding Hayden's estate, she says -- because it seems Hayden didn't have a will -- California law dictates the entirety of the estate goes to Kaya.

Disturbing new details in Hayden Panettiere's death, Prince Harry's making a royal return home, and, it turns out, President Trump's ride-or-die assistant writes passionate notes on the job! So, we gotta ask ...

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson gave her Narcan after he and his brother Zach Hickerson found her unconscious the day she died ... at least according to Zach ... and that's huge on many levels.

Zach tells TMZ ... "Brian gave her Narcan."

The admission is telling ... Hayden and Brian traveled to South Carolina the day before she died, so it seems they either traveled with Narcan or bought some in South Carolina shortly after arriving. Whatever the case, it suggests Hayden and/or Brian were really struggling with substance abuse.

Zach says he went to their Greenville Airbnb after not hearing from them, knocked, woke Brian up from a nap, and then the brothers discovered an unconscious Hayden ... with Zach calling 911 as Brian gave her Narcan, a medication administered nasally to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

In a statement to TMZ on Friday, Zach says ... "There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling. The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth."

Brian Hickerson got called on the carpet in an L.A. courtroom for being "quite high" during a recent TMZ interview, and that was enough for the judge to deny his attempt to clear his record.

Hickerson had filed a motion to expunge his 2020 domestic violence case -- where he beat girlfriend Hayden Panettiere -- and a judge took up the motion August 13th -- three days before Hayden's death. Hickerson and his lawyer were no-shows, but the D.A. had plenty to say.

For starters, the prosecutor noted he was arrested a year ago while high at a restaurant in West Hollywood. PEOPLE was first to report on the TMZ interview being used against Brian Hickerson in Court.

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was arrested twice last year in Los Angeles ... prosecutors revealed in open court during a hearing days before her death.

Here's the deal ... last month, Brian filed a petition to expunge his domestic violence arrest from his record. In 2021, he pled no contest to two felony counts of corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant and was sentenced to 45 days in jail and 4 years of probation, and he had to fulfill other requirements as well.

Brian petitioned the court, claiming he'd met his obligations under the law ... and he wanted the felonies taken off his record ... a motion prosecutors opposed.

During a court hearing last Thursday -- which neither Hickerson nor his attorney attended -- PEOPLE reports prosecutors strongly opposed expunging the record ... citing Brian's alleged drug use and two different arrests that took place last year in Los Angeles.

Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko is celebrating her life on what would have been her 37th birthday.

Wladimir, who is the father of Hayden's only child, Kaya, took to Instagram to memorialize Hayden alongside a throwback photo of Hayden grinning at the camera.

He penned ... "Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world."

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend was slurring his words in some bizarre videos he posted to social media months before the actress died with him in the room.

We've obtained videos Brian Hickerson previously shared to his Instagram story from May and June of this year ... including one in which he imitated a woman -- one whom he wouldn't name -- telling him he sounded drunk.

He then goes through the process of posting a song to social media ... after seemingly acknowledging and disregarding copyright laws.

Gayle King says Hayden Panettiere wasn't at the top of her game when Gayle interviewed her a few months before her tragic death ... but she says it was clear Hayden was trying to get better.

We got the newscaster in New York City on Friday morning ... and our photog asked her if there were signs Hayden wasn't doing well back in May, when they had their last conversation.

Gayle, who laid into Hayden's mom earlier this week for her statement after her daughter died, says there weren't "signs" of anything wrong with Hayden ... but she admits the actress was "clearly still wobbly" and still working things out -- which is why Gayle's heart sank when she heard the news of Hayden's death.

Hayden Panettiere's death is causing concern for Greenville, SC residents, who fear the actress is just the latest tragic example of the opioid crisis ravaging their city.

An addict-turned-advocate who lives in the area tells TMZ ... laced drugs and fatal overdoses have been a serious concern in Greenville for years, particularly in the area where Hayden died last Sunday.

She says the area's developed a reputation as a place where people can party and easily obtain drugs ... alleging some residents even have drugs delivered to their doorstep.

Here's a closer look at the South Carolina apartment complex where Hayden Panettiere was pronounced dead ... from the grounds outside to the hallways within.

Footage shows the exterior of Judson Mill Lofts ... with perfectly manicured lawns, exposed brick, and large glass windows. Inside, you see long hallways with high ceilings and green doors.

To be clear, we don't see inside any of the residences -- or the specific unit where Hayden was found -- but it gives a better sense of the property where first responders rushed to Sunday afternoon after getting a call about Hayden being in cardiac arrest.

Hayden Panettiere would have turned 37 today ... but sadly the celebration will be more of a remembrance.

As TMZ previously reported ... the "Nashville" star had big travel plans to be with her daughter in Germany today ... as part of a trip she told her friends she was ecstatic about.

Unfortunately, Hayden never got to make the trip.

Brian Hickerson is breaking his silence following the death of Hayden Panettiere ... but he isn't saying much.

Brian's attorney, Sloan Ellis from the Ellis Hinton law firm, tells TMZ ... "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed."

The statement continues ... "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play."

It ends ... "Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."