Hayden Panettiere’s former neighbor is sharing troubling claims about what she says she witnessed during the actress’ relationship with Brian Hickerson.
Mia Terrazzas recalled seeing a noticeable change in the “Nashville” star whenever Hickerson was around and alleged that disturbances at Panettiere’s former West Hollywood home repeatedly prompted her to contact authorities.
Her account comes as Panettiere’s death at 36 brings renewed scrutiny to her complicated history with Hickerson.
Mia Terrazzas offered a striking description of the difference she says she observed in Hayden Panettiere depending on whether Brian Hickerson was around.
Speaking to Inside Edition, the actress’ former neighbor remembered Panettiere as noticeably happier when she was on her own.
“She was always such a bright light when she was by herself,” Terrazzas recalled. “When she was with Brian, she was so subdued and seemed almost like a different person.”
Terrazzas’ observations take on new significance following Panettiere’s death, particularly given the former couple’s documented history.
According to the news program, Terrazzas said she contacted 911 approximately “half a dozen times” to report disturbances at Panettiere’s West Hollywood apartment.
When asked directly whether she had ever witnessed anything that made her suspect domestic violence could be taking place, Terrazzas did not hesitate.
“Oh, absolutely,” she responded.
Mia Terrazzas Recalls A Troubling Moment Involving The Actress
Terrazzas went on to describe one particular incident that remained with her.
“I saw her leaving on a gurney,” the neighbor told Inside Edition, adding that Hickerson was beside Panettiere at the time.
Terrazzas said she asked Panettiere whether she was okay and claimed that, from her perspective, the actress appeared to have suffered some form of trauma.
“It looked to me that she, you know, had suffered some type of trauma that, you know, looked to be battering,” she alleged.
Terrazzas also claimed that Panettiere appeared frightened during the encounter, telling the news program, “It was clear she was terrified.”
Panettiere’s former neighbor also said, “This predator was in our community. He never stopped living at her place. There were times he ripped apart her bathroom, where he just took a sledgehammer at 5 in the morning.”
Brian Hickerson’s Troubled History With Hayden Panettiere Resurfaces
The Blast previously reported that Hickerson was arrested in Wyoming in February 2020 following an altercation with Panettiere.
Authorities alleged that he struck the actress with a closed fist during the incident. Court documents later detailed allegations that Hickerson continued contacting Panettiere despite a court order prohibiting him from doing so.
Among the messages allegedly sent to the actress was the ominous warning, “Time to go to war I guess.”
Panettiere also sought to have an out-of-state restraining order against Hickerson enforced in California following the Wyoming incident.
Hickerson ultimately pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant or girlfriend in 2021 and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.
Inside Edition also showed an image of Hickerson that was allegedly displayed at Panettiere’s former apartment complex, warning residents to immediately call 911 if they saw him anywhere on the property.
Despite their troubled past, Hickerson eventually returned to Panettiere’s life. The Blast reported that the actress’ loved ones were reportedly surprised to learn the two had reconnected before her death.
Panettiere’s Former Neighbor Reacts To Her Death At 36
For Terrazzas, learning that her former neighbor had died brought a much different emotion than the concern she remembered feeling years earlier.
When asked how she reacted to Panettiere’s death, she described the news as devastating.
“She’s so young and she had so much life left to live,” Terrazzas told Inside Edition.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina, residence on Sunday, August 16.
According to a police incident report, Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were at the residence when emergency personnel responded.
Zach reportedly found Panettiere unconscious in an armchair after arriving at the property, while Brian was asleep in a bedroom.
Emergency personnel performed CPR and advanced cardiac life support but were unable to revive the actress. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
The Blast previously reported that police subsequently visited a South Carolina property belonging to Hickerson’s grandmother. Inside Edition reported that authorities described the visit as a welfare check unrelated to Panettiere’s death.
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause Of Death Has Not Been Determined
Despite speculation surrounding the actress’ death, authorities have not announced an official cause or manner of death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy and found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to Panettiere’s death.
Dispatch audio from the emergency response reportedly referenced a possible “overdose” and cardiac arrest, but investigators have not concluded that an overdose caused her death.
Toxicology testing is underway and could take between eight and 12 weeks to complete.
Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has meanwhile expressed concerns about Hickerson’s presence in her daughter’s life.
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Vogel said, as The Blast previously reported.
However, authorities have not accused Hickerson of involvement in Panettiere’s death, and the preliminary investigation has found no indication of foul play or suspicious circumstances.