By BEN ASHFORD IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA and RUTH STYLES, US SENIOR REPORTER and DIANA COOPER, US SENIOR SHOWBIZ REPORTER
Published: 21:03 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 03:43 BST, 19 August 2026
Hayden Panettiere was romantically linked to both Hickerson brothers – who were together at the scene when the actress died of a suspected overdose, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The bombshell comes as Zach Hickerson, 38, was seen for the first time since the star's shock death in exclusive photos on Tuesday.
Zach refused to comment when approached by the Daily Mail, after a police report revealed both he and his brother Brian, 37 – Panettiere's on-off boyfriend – were present when she was found unresponsive at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday.
It is widely known that realtor Brian had a tumultuous years-long relationship with Panettiere, 36, marred by bouts of domestic violence.
But the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that the Heroes actress was also romantically linked to his older brother, pastor Zach, when Brian was locked up for attacking her in 2019.
The two were seen strolling in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood in September that year, with a witness saying, 'They looked very comfortable. Like a real couple.'
Hayden Panettiere briefly dated Zach Hickerson, the brother of her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson after Brian was locked up for domestic abuse. They were spotted holding hands in New York City in 2019
Zach was seen in Greenville, South Carolina, for the first time since Panettiere's tragic death. He declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail
Zach, a pastor and founder of an independent church in Nashville, was dressed entirely in black with dark circles visible under his eyes, suggesting a sleepless night
That might explain why he cut such a haunted figure when the Daily Mail approached him for comment at his home in Greenville, South Carolina.
Zach, a pastor and founder of an independent church in Nashville, was dressed entirely in black with dark circles visible under his eyes, suggesting a sleepless night.
'No comment, bro, and with no offense to you and what you're trying to do, this is private property,' he told our reporter.
'Please respect our privacy. I'm not going to answer anything that you ask me.
