Brian Hickerson, the boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere who died Sunday, faced significant financial difficulties during their relationship, according to bankruptcy records obtained by TMZ.
Court documents show Hickerson filed for bankruptcy on July 18, 2022, declaring assets totaling $25,700 against liabilities of $60,000. The petition revealed he reported zero average monthly income despite monthly expenses of $1,248.
Among the assets Hickerson listed were four vehicles: a 1990 Ford Bronco with 160,000 miles valued at $3,000, a 2008 Toyota Prius worth $2,000, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle valued at $3,000, and a Chevrolet Silverado worth $8,000. According to the filing, the Silverado belonged to his father but remained titled in Hickerson's name.
His remaining property consisted of an iPhone and printer valued at $1,250, clothing worth $2,000, and jewelry valued at $100. The paperwork indicated he maintained $6,250 in his checking account at the time of filing.
The debt breakdown included more than $20,000 in credit card obligations and over $30,000 in medical bills. Hickerson reported starting employment at a staffing company just two weeks before filing, and indicated he paid neither rent nor utility bills.
The bankruptcy case closed several months after the initial filing.
The financial troubles emerged years after Hickerson's arrests for domestic violence involving Panettiere. The couple dated publicly from 2018 to 2022, a period marked by multiple domestic violence accusations against Hickerson.
According to TMZ, sources indicated the pair continued their relationship this year but kept it concealed because Panettiere's team advised against public appearances with Hickerson while she promoted her book.
Panettiere died Sunday after Zach Hickerson, Brian's brother, discovered her unresponsive. Emergency services responded to the call but could not revive the actress, who was pronounced dead at 2:32 PM. Brian Hickerson was traveling with Panettiere to South Carolina and remained in the room as emergency medical personnel attempted to save her from cardiac arrest.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
