Neighbor Hayden Panettiere called the police several times. "She was scared".

A neighbor of actress Hayden Panettiere has claimed she called the police multiple times due to concerns over alleged domestic violence within the actor’s household, according to reports from local media and interviews with individuals close to the case. The neighbor, identified as Mia Terrazzas, told the television network Inside Edition that she believed Panettiere was a victim of abuse in her family. She stated that she had contacted law enforcement at least six times, citing incidents she described as instances of domestic violence involving Panettiere and her former or occasional partner, Brian Hickerson. Terrazzas recounted witnessing Panettiere exit her residence while being supported by Hickerson, describing the moment as troubling. She noted that Panettiere appeared injured, possibly from being physically assaulted, and seemed visibly frightened. “I asked her if everything was okay, and it looked like she had suffered some kind of injury that appeared to be the result of being hit. It was clear she was scared,” Terrazzas explained. According to Terrazzas, Panettiere's behavior changed significantly in the presence of Hickerson. She described how the actress, who is typically energetic and outgoing, became more subdued and less lively during these interactions. This shift in demeanor led Terrazzas to suspect that there were ongoing tensions within the household. Hickerson, who was present at the time of Panettiere’s death, has not publicly commented on the incident. However, his brother, Zach Hickerson, reportedly accompanied him to the scene and showed police a medical bag containing items Panettiere had used. The police report obtained by NBC News mentions the presence of Zach Hickerson at the location. Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, also spoke to NBC News, stating that Hickerson had been part of Panettiere’s life for a long time and had been difficult to remove from her life. Vogel revealed that the couple had recently reconciled after previous reports suggested they had separated. She added that Hickerson had often enabled behaviors that concerned them, leading to long-standing worries among the family. In 2020, Hickerson was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Panettiere. At that time, she had sought a restraining order against him. In her recent memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere detailed episodes of alleged physical abuse by Hickerson, including one instance where he allegedly beat her severely enough to prevent her from leaving her home for several weeks. After rehabilitation, she resumed drinking with Hickerson, which was followed by further allegations of abuse. An autopsy conducted on Panettiere did not reveal signs of injuries that could have contributed to her death. As such, authorities have indicated that the circumstances surrounding her passing remain under investigation, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also reviewing the case.