Lesley Vogel, the estranged mother of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has spoken out about her daughter's death, criticizing Brian Hickerson, who was with Panettiere at the time of her passing.
"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 told NBC News. Panettiere, 36, was found dead on Aug. 16 at a luxury apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, after an apparent overdose, according to 911 audio. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death with "profound sadness" the same day.
Vogel stated that she has limited information about the ongoing investigation but plans to speak with a detective. A police report indicated that Panettiere, who had experienced "severe health issues" recently, was taking a "bag of medication" at the time of her death, though the specific types were redacted.
The relationship between Panettiere and her mother was tumultuous, and they were not on speaking terms prior to the actress's death. In her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," released in May, Panettiere detailed a strained dynamic with her mother, who had previously managed her career. She recalled an incident at age 19 when she asked her mother to stop managing her career and simply be her mom. Vogel allegedly responded, "You owe me," a comment Panettiere later interpreted as a demand for money.
Panettiere expressed disappointment that her mother did not pursue a closer relationship after that. Vogel, however, pushed back against her daughter's claims in a Page Six interview shortly after the memoir's release, suggesting that Panettiere's statements were "partially to sell books" and attributing them to a personality style characterized by a need for control, entitlement, and a lack of empathy.
This is not the first time Vogel has experienced profound loss. Her son, Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly on Feb. 19, 2023, at age 28 from heart conditions. Hayden had previously expressed guilt that her career took her and her mother away from spending more time with Jansen.