Brian Hickerson‘s troubled history with Hayden Panettiere is facing renewed scrutiny following the actress’ death earlier this month.
New details from court records now reveal that Hickerson voluntarily sought domestic violence counseling after a 2020 arrest, while his past legal and financial troubles have also come back into focus.
The revelations further reinforce the complicated relationship between Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere, who had an on-and-off relationship marked by domestic violence allegations and legal encounters.
After Panettiere accused Hickerson of assault in 2020, court documents show that he took steps toward addressing the allegations.
According to TMZ, Hickerson voluntarily underwent a domestic violence prevention evaluation through the Curran Seeley Foundation, an outpatient facility in Wyoming.
In the legal paperwork, Hickerson said he was “committed to following any recommendations.” His lawyers were seeking to have an arrest warrant dropped at the time, while he also explained that he had turned to family members for financial help with his bond.
Hickerson eventually reached a resolution in his criminal cases and received a sentence that included probation. His legal troubles also resulted in a court-ordered domestic violence class and a protective order.
Brian Hickerson’s Threats To The Late Hayden Panettiere Exposed
The legal records also shed light on threatening messages Hickerson allegedly sent to Panettiere while she was cooperating with authorities. One of the messages reportedly read, “Time to go to war I guess.”
In another alleged message, Hickerson warned that information he had stored overseas could be released if he went to prison.
He said, “Even if I sit in a jail cell for ten years. All of the stuff that is vaulted overseas with my people will come out the second I step foot into prison. And all that does is hurt your name while simultaneously clearing my name. And at that point, who actually cares?”
The messages became part of the scrutiny surrounding the relationship, which ultimately led to Panettiere obtaining a restraining order against him.
Panettiere later described the relationship in her memoir, detailing incidents of abuse and explaining how difficult it had been to break away from Hickerson.
Brian Hickerson Had Serious Financial Problems
Hickerson also faced significant financial difficulties following his legal troubles. Page Six reported that he filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, listing about $25,700 in assets against roughly $60,000 in liabilities and reporting no income at the time.
His listed debts included nearly $20,000 in credit card expenses and approximately $18,000 in medical bills. Among his assets were several vehicles, a motorcycle, an iPhone, a printer, clothing and a small amount of jewelry.
The financial strain was also apparent in the earlier court proceedings. Hickerson told authorities he had “borrowed money from family” to cover his bond, while his attorney said he lacked the funds to travel from Los Angeles to Wyoming for court.
Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend’s Arrest History
Hickerson’s legal history with Panettiere stretches back several years. He was first arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against the actress in Los Angeles in May 2019, though the case was later dismissed. He was arrested again in Wyoming on Valentine’s Day 2020 following another alleged domestic dispute.
In July 2020, authorities brought an eight-count indictment against him involving several alleged incidents between May 2019 and January 2020. Hickerson ultimately pleaded no contest in 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
He received a jail sentence, probation, mandatory domestic violence classes and a five-year protective order. Just three days before Panettiere’s death, Hickerson also sought to have his previous felony charges reduced or expunged, but a Los Angeles judge rejected the request.
Following Panettiere’s death, Hickerson’s attorney said the circumstances remain under investigation and urged people to allow authorities to complete their work. “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” the attorney said.
Hayden Panettiere Recounted Abuse In Her Memoir
In her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning”, Hayden Panettiere gave a detailed account of the abuse she said she experienced during her relationship with Brian Hickerson.
She described how arguments fueled by alcohol eventually led to violence, recalling how the relationship changed from what had initially felt like a source of happiness.
Panettiere alleged that Hickerson repeatedly punched her in the face during one incident and secretly recorded himself questioning how she had sustained her injuries.
She also recalled being disturbed by the drastic changes in his behavior, writing, “I didn’t know the person Brian turned into when he started raging.”
As the investigation into the sudden death of Panettiere continues, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has joined the probe to determine if a fatal cardiac arrest was triggered by illegal substances or unlawfully prescribed medications.