On the one year anniversary of her brother’s sudden passing, Hayden Panettiere is remembering Jansen with an emotional Instagram post.
Alongside a photo of the two of them petting a dog, Hayden wrote, “Today is the 1 year anniversary of my little brother’s passing. Know that I keep him in my heart, keep his things close. His AMAZING paintings are what I see when I wake up and when I go to sleep. Rest in peacem my brother. One day we’ll meet again.”
In the comments, Hayden added that she appreciates everyone’s kind support. “Thank you for all ur love.”
Back in April 2023, for the first time since her brother’s sudden and unexpected, Hayden Panettiere spoke out about Jansen Panettiere for the first time.
“I always see a few secret messages that maybe he meant to put there, maybe he didn’t,” Hayden said while speaking about a piece of art Jansen created for her. A piece of work that he was working on at the time of his passing.
“His art, that was the thing that made him happiest,” she told The New York Times as her voice cracked. His ashes remain atop the center of her mantle.
Hayden still lives in the home where her family last lived altogether before her parents split. And while her relationship with her parents hasn’t always been perfect, she admits “my relationship with my parents now is good and even more special to me, because we lost my brother.”
As Mamas Uncut previously reported the family of Hayden and Jansen Panettiere released their first statement since Jansen’s tragic passing on February 18.
Jansen was discovered in his New York home by a friend. Earlier reports revealed that Jansen’s friends grew concerned for him when he didn’t show up for a scheduled business meeting.
Jansen Panettiere’s Cause of Death Revealed as His Parents Make Their First Statement
According to TMZ, the friend who “raced to his home” to check on him discovered him “sitting upright in a chair, unresponsive, called 911 and started CPR.” Now, Jansen’s family is speaking out for the first time.
In the statement given to ABC News, Jansen’s mom, Lesley, and father, Skip, revealed his cause of death. “Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
As the statement continued, they wrote, “Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit. His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”
“We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning. We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever.”
It’s unclear if Jansen’s heart issues were something he dealt with his whole life. He was just 28 years old.
RELATED: Hayden Panettiere Opens Up For the First Time Ever About Why She Gave Up Custody of Her Only Child
After obtaining a copy of the police report, TMZ reveals that police spoke with Jansen and Hayden Panettiere’s father, Skip, who revealed he spoke with his son the night before his death and admitted Jansen sounded “okay.”
Jansen, like his sister, is also an actor. The brother-sister duo even worked on several projects together in their early years, including Tiger Cruise and Racing Stripes.
While Jansen seemed to have stepped away from the world of Hollywood several years ago, his social media reveals he was seemingly fond of abstract art and clothing design.
Just a month ago, Jansen took to Instagram to share a photo of himself and Hayden. The black and white photo depicted Hayden giving her younger brother a haircut.
“Not the first haircut she’s tried to give me,” Jansen captioned the photo. Hayden liked the post. It appears as though the siblings were close.
Our thoughts continue to be with the Panettiere family during this particularly tragic time.
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.