Wladimir Klitschko Says Hayden Panettiere’s Jewelry Was Pawned Off
Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Wladimir Klitschko Files for Temporary Guardianship of Daughter Kaya
Wladimir Klitschko is trying to preserve Hayden Panettiere’s legacy.
Less than two months after the Heroes star died at the age of 36 from an accidental overdose, Klitschko—who shared daughter Kaya, 11, with Panettiere—has alleged that some of the late actress’ belongings have gone missing.
According to an Oct. 5 filing obtained by E! News, Klitschko’s attorneys stated, “Petitioner is informed and believes that a non-family member previously connected to Hayden sold certain items belonging to Hayden, believed to include jewelry, to a pawn shop. The pawn shop has declined to disclose specific item information without being contacted by law enforcement.”
“Absent such contact,” the document—filed with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles—continues, “there is a real and continuing risk that any remaining items, including jewelry, believed to belong to Hayden, will be sold, transferred or otherwise rendered unrecoverable.”
The filing notes that because an individual has not been named as the personal representative of Panettiere’s estate, no one has the authority to request law enforcement’s assistance in investigating the alleged disappearances.
The filing notes the lack of investigation is to “the direct financial detriment of Kaya, Hayden's sole intestate heir.”
Therefore Klitschko—who previously filed for temporary guardianship of his daughter, to ensure she gains ownership of her late mother’s estate—has asked in this filing to also be made temporary guardian of Kaya’s estate.
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“Although Hayden's Estate has not yet been distributed to Kaya, Kaya's priority as sole intestate heir gives her the paramount economic interest in preserving the value of Hayden's Estate,” the filing reads, noting making Klitschko the guardian “is necessary to protect that interest from further loss.”
E! News has reached out to Panettiere’s rep and Klitschko’s attorneys for comment but has not yet heard back.
Following Panettiere’s death, Klitschko—who dated the Nashville actress on and off for nearly a decade before their 2018 split—shared his grief and his determination to preserve Kaya’s connection to her mother.
"Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya," he wrote on Instagram Aug. 18. "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
He then promised, "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was," he wrote. "I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon."
For a closer look at the details surrounding Panettiere’s heartbreaking death, read on.
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When Did Hayden Panettiere Die?
Hayden Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. She was 36.
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How Did Hayden Panettiere Die?
After receiving a 911 call at around 1:51 p.m. on Aug. 16, first responders and emergency medical services arrived at a residence in Greenville and found a woman—later identified as Panettiere—in cardiac arrest, according to a release shared by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office the following day.
While "advanced cardiac life support measures" were provided, the release continued, the "resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful" as Panettiere was unresponsive. The actress was pronounced dead at the scene a little after 2:30 p.m.
In audio of the emergency dispatch call obtained by CNN and TMZ, EMS responders could be heard discussing an apparent overdose.
However, the official cause and manner of death were not initially revealed as the coroner's office and Greenville City Police Department continued their investigations.Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
What Was Hayden Panettiere's Cause of Death?
In its Aug. 17 release, the coroner's office confirmed an autopsy was completed and that "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death" of the Heroes star.
About a month later, Panettiere's official cause of death was revealed.
"The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine," the Greenville County Coroner's Office said in a statement Sept. 22. "The manner of death has been ruled accident."
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Who Was With Hayden Panettiere When She Died?
The Greenville City Police Department noted in its Aug. 17 release that "an acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call," with a redacted police report obtained by E! listing both Brian Hickerson—her on-again, off-again boyfriend since 2018— and his brother Zach Hickerson as the ones to call 911.
Zach later told officers investigating Panettiere's death that she was Brian's girlfriend, according to Greenville City PD's report.
Zach also shared in an Aug. 21 statement to TMZ that Brian gave Panettiere Narcan—an opioid overdose reversal medication—after the pair found the actress unconscious in the apartment she was renting. Zach also said that he and Brian "jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived."
Police noted in an Aug. 16 release that "the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances" around her death.
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How Did Brian Hickerson and Zach Hickerson React to Hayden Panettiere's Death?
In the police report, an officer noted Zach was "very emotional while EMS were working on" Panettiere, though
"Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased."
E! News has reached out to Zach for comment but has not heard back. Meanwhile, Brian's attorney Sloan Ellis has spoken out.
"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis told E! News Aug. 20. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
And while police told People officers "responded to a call for a welfare check at a home belonging to Brian Hickerson’s family" on Aug. 19, they noted "the call is unrelated to the Hayden Panettiere death investigation and did not require an incident report."
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What Has Hayden Panettiere's Family Said About Her Death?
After Panettiere died, her father Skip Panettiere told ABC News she was "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her—and to the millions who watched her onscreen."
Two days later, her mother Lesley Vogel broke her silence.
"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death," she told NBC News Aug. 18, "and that was Brian Hickerson."
While Panettiere—whose brother Jansen died in 2023 at age 28—and her mom had publicly spoken about their estrangement, Vogel remembered her daughter as "an amazingly talented person in so many departments."
"I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry—it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry," she added, "and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."
Additionally, her ex Wladimir Klitschko addressed his "profound shock and grief" he and their daughter Kaya were facing in the wake of Panettiere's death. The Ukranian boxer further vowed to keep the Nashville alum's legacy alive in Kaya's memory.
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