Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has filed an urgent legal petition in Los Angeles seeking temporary guardianship to protect the estate of his late ex-fiancée, actress Hayden Panettiere, on behalf of their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, as reported by The PinkNews.
Panettiere, known for her roles in the television series “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died on August 16 at the age of 36 after being found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina apartment. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, her death was determined to be an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and other drugs. An ongoing federal investigation, involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, is examining the source of the substances, with sources noting she had recently been released from a rehabilitation center in Malibu, California.
In the court documents filed on September 24 in Los Angeles, Klitschko, 50, asks to be appointed temporary guardian to initiate the probate process and nominate an administrator for the estate, as Kaya is the sole heir. According to court filings reported by NBC News, the petition warns that without an authorized personal representative, estate property risks being lost, damaged, or misappropriated.
Klitschko’s filing raises concerns that unauthorized individuals may have gained access to Panettiere’s Los Angeles home prior to her death. He alleges that locks were altered, designer clothing was moved, and valuables including jewelry remain unaccounted for. Furthermore, the petition claims non-family members accessed and deleted electronic communications belonging to the late actress. These assertions are part of the legal filing and have not been independently established by a court.
The legal filing also addresses property currently held by law enforcement. Federal agents removed items from Panettiere’s residence as part of the ongoing investigation into her death, leaving no personal representative authorized to safeguard or account for them. Klitschko is seeking standing to ensure these assets can eventually be recovered and managed for his daughter’s benefit.
A court hearing regarding the temporary guardianship petition is scheduled for October 8. The proceedings focus strictly on the legal administration and asset protection of the estate inherited by Kaya, distinct from the full custody arrangement granted to Klitschko in 2018 following the couple’s separation.