Hayden Panettiere's Divorced Parents Both Claimed Actress's Earrings

Hayden Panettiere's parents, Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel, both requested the earrings the actress was wearing when she died, according to a report from the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

Authorities reported that multiple stud earrings were removed from Panettiere's person after her passing. A senior deputy spoke with both Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel, who indicated that each wanted the jewelry. Officials informed both parties that the earrings, stored in a sealed bag, would be held until an agreement could be reached.

"Both parties were informed that until they could reach an agreement regarding the decedent's personal effects that they would not be released," the coroner's report stated.

Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36 in Greenville, South Carolina. Her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present when she was pronounced dead. The coroner's report indicated that her death was accidental, caused by the toxic effects of multiple drugs, including fentanyl, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine.

Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel, who are also parents to their late son Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023 at 28, separated in 2008. Vogel filed for divorce in 2012, and the divorce was finalized in 2016.

Brian Hickerson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, stated in August that "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed." The statement also noted that "police confirmed there were no signs of foul play" and that "Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."

More recently, Brian and Zach Hickerson were involved in an altercation at a restaurant in Greenville. An eyewitness told TMZ that the brothers were heckled about Panettiere's death before the situation escalated, leading to Zach Hickerson's arrest for disorderly conduct. Zach Hickerson later told TMZ that public misconceptions surrounding the actress's death fueled the incident, expressing frustration over rumors and subsequent attacks.