Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has publicly disputed the account of her estranged daughter's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, regarding the circumstances of the actress's death. Vogel stated in an interview with the Daily Mail that she believes Hickerson's narrative of the events leading to Panettiere's death is "full of holes."
Vogel, who was reportedly estranged from her daughter for years prior to her death, told the Daily Mail that she spoke with a police officer at the scene. According to Vogel, when asked about Hickerson, she told the officer she believed him to be "culpable."
Hickerson, Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend who was present the day she died, has reportedly only spoken through his lawyer, who has stated the investigation is ongoing. However, Vogel claims Hickerson told police that he last saw Panettiere alive on Sunday morning while she was doing her makeup at their Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina. He allegedly stated he then left the residence for a period.
According to Vogel's account of Hickerson's statement to police, he returned, took a nap, and only awoke when his brother, Zach Hickerson, arrived and they discovered Panettiere unresponsive. Panettiere was later declared dead from an apparent overdose. Reports indicate Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was found at the scene.
Vogel expressed skepticism about Hickerson's timeline, suggesting a discrepancy. "I think there will be a discrepancy in the timeline, meaning Brian had to go out and buy the Narcan while he left her there because I do not believe he happened to have two bottles of Narcan on him, like he carried them around in his back pocket," Vogel said. She also questioned his ability to nap while someone nearby was in distress, asking, "I don’t know how you can take a nap near someone who’s dying and not realize something’s wrong."
Vogel speculated that Hickerson may have called his brother after realizing Panettiere was deceased, in an attempt to construct a specific story. "I think Brian called his brother. My opinion," she stated. "I think he knew she was deceased. Called his brother, and tried and built this story."
When reached for comment on Vogel's claims, Brian Hickerson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, reiterated their previous statement. "Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis said. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Conversely, Zach Hickerson told TMZ on Friday that Brian performed CPR on Panettiere and administered Narcan when he found her unconscious. Zach acknowledged that "assumptions, speculations and accusations" were circulating, but insisted that the truth would emerge as the investigation progresses, stating that Panettiere's loved ones and fans "deserve the truth."
Vogel also criticized Hickerson's influence on her daughter's life. "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 stated. In a subsequent statement to Entertainment Tonight, she added that while she and her daughter were estranged, it was "not for lack of care or love," but due to the "involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death."
Vogel also noted that the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into Panettiere's death. "It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened, and I think we are all looking for answers," she said.