Washington [US], August 24 (ANI): Hayden Panettiere had been experiencing severe physical pain and gave private security instructions to keep ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson away from a Manhattan book-signing event in May, according to a new report by The New York Times.
Panettiere was accompanied by private security during her visit to Barnes and Noble, where staff were given "clear instructions to keep [Hickerson] away," the newspaper reported.
Hickerson was present when Panettiere was found dead on August 16 in an apartment in Greenville. SC Police initially said no foul play was suspected, while an initial autopsy found no signs of trauma.
Panettiere wrote about Hickerson in her memoir, 'This is Me: A Reckoning', which was released in May.
According to The New York Times report, the book details violence by Hickerson toward the actress and says the incidents resulted in three arrests and some time in jail.
The report also detailed Panettiere's physical struggles. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, told the newspaper that she spent time with her daughter in Los Angeles a year ago "when she was in pain. She was afraid. She couldn't physically function properly."
Vogel said she took Panettiere to doctors and an acupuncturist in an effort to address a "pins and needles" sensation in her legs that affected her ability to walk.
Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with depression and addiction. She told People magazine that she was given "happy pills" at 15. After landing 'Heroes' at 16, she later began drinking and occasionally taking opioids.
"My saving grace is that I couldn't be messy while on set and working," she said, adding, "But things kept getting out of control [off set]. And as I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn't live without."
Following Panettiere's death, actress Melissa Gilbert also called for better protections for child actors. Gilbert wrote in a social media post, "How is it possible that no one in the mainstream media has picked up on this?"
"Within one year, Michelle Trachtenberg, Daveigh Chase and Hayden Panettiere have died. DIED! Three former female child actors of the same generation are gone. Tragically, heartbreakingly, agonisingly too soon," Gilbert said. (ANI)
Hayden Panettiere suffered "pins and needles" pain, barred ex Brian Hickerson from book signing
