The investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death is drawing renewed scrutiny after Nancy Grace questioned whether authorities may be moving too quickly by ruling out foul play, particularly given the actress’ complicated history with her former partner Brian Hickerson.
During the Aug. 19 episode of “Crime Stories,” Grace pushed back against the idea that investigators should simply assume Panettiere’s death was not suspicious.
The 66-year-old legal commentator said she would not automatically dismiss the possibility of foul play when a person is found dead under circumstances that have not yet been fully explained.
“When I find a dead body, I don’t just assume there’s no foul play,” Grace said. “That’s completely irresponsible.”
Grace then pressed investigative reporter Dave Mack for more information about the case, asking a series of basic questions about where Panettiere was found, when authorities discovered her body and what investigators encountered at the scene.
“Who? What? Where? When? Why?” Grace asked. “Where was she found? When was she found? Give me the circumstances. What was found at the scene? Was anybody there? Help me out, Dave.”
Panettiere, known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” was found dead in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16 at age 36. Authorities have not revealed a determination of her cause of death.
The county coroner has said an autopsy did not reveal trauma that would have contributed to her death. “This investigation remains active and ongoing,” the coroner’s office said in a report released Aug. 18, while noting that no additional details were available.
Grace acknowledged that authorities have previously ruled out foul play in other high-profile celebrity deaths, including those of Matthew Perry, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. But she argued that the phrase does not necessarily settle the question while investigations remain incomplete.
“There were investigations, right?” Grace said. “So, when everybody keeps screaming no signs of foul play, that means nothing to me.”
To provide context, Grace spoke with toxicologist and medical examiner Dr. Thomas Coyne, who is not involved in Panettiere’s case. Coyne explained that investigators frequently use the phrase “no signs of foul play” when an autopsy does not reveal obvious physical evidence of a killing.
“It’s something we typically say in these types of cases. It just lets the public know that there’s no obvious trauma, no obvious murder that may have occurred,” Coyne explained.
He cautioned, however, that an autopsy does not always immediately provide the final answer, particularly in suspected overdose cases.
“In these cases, especially overdose cases, the answer isn’t present at the autopsy,” Coyne said. He explained that toxicology testing can take weeks, leaving investigators to work with incomplete information while waiting for laboratory results.
The questions surrounding Panettiere’s death have also brought renewed attention to Hickerson, who was reportedly with the actress when she died.
As reported by PageSix, Panettiere and Hickerson had a long and troubled relationship. The pair became romantically involved in 2018, and Hickerson was arrested multiple times in connection with allegations involving the actress. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. He received a 45-day jail sentence, four years of formal probation, domestic violence classes and a $500 restitution order. Panettiere was also granted a five-year protective order.
The concerns surrounding Hickerson did not entirely disappear after the court proceedings. Residents of Panettiere’s West Hollywood condominium building received a warning about him in August 2025. A flyer reportedly included his photograph and instructed residents to contact police if he was seen on the property.
The notice stated that Hickerson “has been seen trespassing the common areas and hallways” and urged residents not to allow him into the building. It further instructed residents to call 911 if he returned to the property.
One of Panettiere’s former neighbors, Mia Terrazas, stated that she had been frightened of Hickerson and had contacted police over alleged disturbances. Terrazas also claimed that Hickerson continued finding ways back into Panettiere’s life, eventually living in her condominium for roughly two years.
The pair reportedly reconnected about two weeks before Panettiere’s death. They traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina on Saturday, one day before Panettiere died. Zach Hickerson allegedly discovered her body while his brother was sleeping in another room.
The circumstances have prompted additional investigative attention. Although authorities have said there are no current signs of foul play, the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation, according to the report.
Her family has asked the public for privacy while investigators work to determine what happened.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
