Lesley Vogel, the mother of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has broken her silence following her daughter’s death, sharing her grief and offering criticism towards Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
In comments made to NBC News, Vogel stated that Hickerson was with Panettiere at the time of her death. “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Vogel said.
Vogel also reflected on the challenges faced by young people in the entertainment industry, noting, “I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry—it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.”
Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. First responders attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 36 years old. Reports indicate that Narcan, a drug used to treat overdoses, was found at the scene. A cause of death has not yet been officially determined, though authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding her passing, with a narcotics investigator reportedly joining the probe.
Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship, which began in 2018, has been marked by multiple domestic violence incidents. Hickerson had previously pleaded no contest to charges in connection with domestic violence incidents involving Panettiere, and his request to have felony domestic violence charges reduced to misdemeanors was denied days before her death.
Vogel also spoke of her daughter’s relationship with her late brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at the age of 28. “I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace,” Vogel said, reflecting on their bond.
The relationship between Panettiere and Vogel had been described as strained in the past, with both mother and daughter having spoken publicly about their estrangement. Vogel mentioned in a statement to Entertainment Tonight that the estrangement was not due to a lack of love but rather the involvement of a “toxic individual.” She stated, “Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death.”
Despite the past difficulties, Vogel expressed her desire for her daughter to be remembered for her talent and positive qualities. “I want Hayden to be remembered for the talented, you know, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was,” Vogel told ABC News.
The investigation into Panettiere’s death is ongoing, with parallel inquiries being conducted by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office and the Greenville City Police Department. The involvement of a narcotics investigator suggests a focus on the potential role of substances in her death. Her ex-fiancé is Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
