Secret romance exposed: Hayden Panettiere was reportedly dating her boyfriend's brother

Hayden Panettiere's final years have brought renewed attention to the complicated relationships surrounding the actress, including a previously reported romance with Zach Hickerson , the older brother of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson.

According to reports published after Panettiere's death, the actress was romantically linked to Zach in 2019, while Brian was incarcerated following an incident involving Panettiere . The reported relationship adds another unexpected chapter to a deeply turbulent period in her personal life.

Panettiere and Brian had begun dating in 2018, and their relationship was repeatedly interrupted by allegations of domestic violence, legal proceedings and periods of separation.

Despite those difficulties, the pair remained connected over the years and were reportedly together again shortly before Panettiere's death at 36.

The revelation about Zach comes as new details emerge about the circumstances surrounding Panettiere's death in South Carolina on August 16. A police report indicates that both Hickerson brothers were at the Judson Mill Lofts residence when emergency responders were called.

Brothers were reportedly present during her final moments

Reports say Zach discovered Panettiere unresponsive in a living-room chair while Brian was asleep in another room. Both brothers reportedly contacted emergency services, and medical personnel attempted to revive the actress before she was pronounced dead.

Authorities have said the preliminary examination found no signs of trauma, and no foul play has been suspected. The precise cause of death remains under investigation, while emergency dispatch audio reportedly referenced cardiac arrest and a possible overdose.

Zach , who has been described as a pastor, was approached by reporters outside his South Carolina home after the news emerged. He declined to discuss Panettiere , asking for privacy and saying he wouldn't answer questions about the situation.

The reported 2019 connection between Zach and Panettiere has attracted particular attention because it allegedly occurred during one of the actress's separations from Brian .

The pair were reportedly seen together in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood that September, with an eyewitness describing them as appearing comfortable together.

Panettiere's death has also prompted renewed discussion of her struggles with addiction, mental health and family relationships. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released months before her death, she wrote candidly about difficult periods in her life and her relationship with Brian .

Her mother, Lesley Vogel , has since spoken publicly about her daughter's struggles and the family's grief, while Panettiere's former partner Wladimir Klitschko has also paid tribute.

The actress leaves behind her daughter, Kaya , and a body of work that includes Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise.