Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has filed an urgent petition in a Los Angeles court to become the temporary guardian of his 11-year-old daughter Kaya's multimillion dollar inheritance following the death of his former fiancee, actress Hayden Panettiere.
The Mirror reports that Klitschko is seeking to protect the estate, estimated at 6 million dollars, amid concerns that Panettiere's assets are at risk of being lost or stolen.
Kaya, a United States citizen who currently lives abroad with her father, is the sole heir to her mother's fortune. Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, died without leaving a will on August 16, 2026, at the age of 36.
Missing jewelry and unauthorized access
Court documents filed on September 24 reveal Klitschko's fears regarding the security of the late actress's property. He stated in the filing that before Panettiere's death, an unidentified person gained unauthorized access to her home.
Following that incident, locks at the property were changed. As a precautionary measure, certain belongings, including designer clothing and accessories kept in storage, were relocated.
Klitschko alleges that since the actress died, some of her personal items, particularly jewelry, have gone missing and remain unaccounted for.
He argued in his petition that an estate administrator must be appointed immediately to locate the missing belongings and coordinate with police. Klitschko warned that without a temporary guardian, the assets could be damaged, wasted or lost before an official representative is named.
Ongoing police investigation
The legal filing also noted that federal agents entered Panettiere's house as part of the ongoing investigation into her death and likely removed some of her possessions. Law enforcement officials currently hold a portion of her property in connection with the case.
A hearing regarding the guardianship petition is provisionally set for December 7, 2026.
Panettiere was found unconscious on a sofa by her former boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach. According to the Greenville County medical examiner, the men attempted to revive her and administered Narcan twice before calling an ambulance, but she could not be saved.
Custody and cause of death
Authorities ruled the death an accidental overdose. Toxicology reports showed the presence of fentanyl and alprazolam in her system, along with a muscle relaxant and an antipsychotic medication prescribed for severe depression.
Klitschko and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and had their daughter Kaya in 2014. In 2018, when the child was three years old, Panettiere transferred full custody to the Ukrainian boxer as she sought treatment for postpartum depression and substance abuse issues.
