Security Directive Preceded Panettiere’s Final Months With Hickerson

The security measures were enforced at her first promotional stop in New York City, where staff at the Union Square Barnes & Noble received specific instructions to block Hickerson from entering. While there is no evidence he attempted to breach the event, the precaution underscores the distance Panettiere sought while publicly documenting the history of domestic violence she experienced during their years together. Despite these efforts, records confirm Hickerson was present at the Greenville, South Carolina, home where the 36-year-old actress died on August 16.

Following the tragedy, Hickerson’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, issued a statement emphasizing that authorities found no signs of foul play while the investigation remains active pending toxicology results. The couple’s history includes Hickerson’s 2021 no-contest plea to two felony counts of injuring a partner, which resulted in a five-year restraining order. Although Panettiere had previously sought to distance herself, her mother, Lesley Vogel, described their final dynamic as a powerful, codependent bond. Hickerson remains a central figure in the inquiries following the actress's death, though he has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection to the event.