Authorities in Los Angeles had made a welfare check at the West Hollywood, California, apartment where Hayden Panettiere lived, a week before the star died in August.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department report reviewed by Us Weekly indicated that the welfare check had been requested after a woman who lived at the dwelling had not been picking up her phone.
The report had been redacted and did not show Panettiere’s name, as a source close to the situation confirmed to Us Weekly the call had been made with the actress in mind.
‘She had become unresponsive to many people in her circle and there was concern,’ the source told the publication, adding that the party had been ‘concerned’ that Panettiere was ‘not answering the phone.’
According to the report, the caller contacted 911 at 10pm on August 9 – a week before Panettiere died aged 36 at a residence in South Carolina where her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson had been present.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Panettiere, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Brian Hickerson’s lawyer for further information on the story.
Authorities in Los Angeles had made a welfare check at the West Hollywood, California apartment where Hayden Panettiere lived a week before the star died in August
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department report indicates that the welfare check had been requested after a woman who lived at the dwelling had not been picking up her phone
The report stated that the woman in question told officials that she had been ‘sick all day and did not feel good.’
Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson had answered the door at the Southern California home, the insider told the outlet.
Panettiere had ‘informed a friend who came to see her that Brian had taken her phone’ after she had been ‘hospitalized a week before her passing,’ the source told the publication.
Authorities said that no subsequent calls had been made to the residence.
Officials said in the report that sheriff’s deputies had twice been called to the Los Angeles residence the prior year, the outlet reported.
In an August 4, 2025 incident, deputies were informed of an ‘ongoing issue’ in which a white man, in a green polo shirt with sweatpants and no shoes, had been trying to enter the home at around 11.47am, the report stated.
The man had ‘left the location’ at around 12.15pm, authorities said, noting that the caller had been advised to change their locks and let them know if the person had come back.
The same day at 3.50pm, officials said in the report that the man had been seen around the complex.
A caller contacted 911 at 10pm on August 9, 2026 – a week before Panettiere died aged 36 at a residence in South Carolina. The star pictured in 2022 in Los Angeles
Panettiere’s cause of death was ruled as an accidental overdose that involved fentanyl. Pictured 2022
Panettiere and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson pictured in December of 2018 in LA
Police had been told at around 4.15pm that the man had ‘moved out temporarily’ during a remodeling project, telling the person who called that they should look into a ‘letter of agency’ option.
The ‘letter of agency’ centered around an official document (signed by the property owner/management) that would grant authorities permission to make their way onto private property to deal with trespassers and people not allowed on the premises.
More than a month later, authorities had been summoned to the home on September 8, 2025 at 12.22pm amid reports of an ‘ongoing issue’ with a white man, who had not been identified. The reporting party said that the man ‘refused to leave’ the premises, as he was lingering around the garage area.
Deputies had spoken with a white man and white woman a few hours later, according to the report, at which point the person referred to as the disturbing party ‘grabbed some belongings then left.’
The new details come more than six weeks after reports that signs had been placed around the complex advising residents to contact authorities if Hickerson had been seen on the premises.
A spokesperson for the Greenville County Coroner’s Office told The Daily Mail last week that Panettiere’s ’cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine,’ adding that ‘the manner of death has been ruled an accident.’
Authorities said in a report that Brian Hickerson had given police a ‘bag of medication’ Panettiere had when they reported to the South Carolina home where she was found.
Hickerson’s lawyer Sloan Ellis said in a statement August 20 that ‘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. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.’
