Hayden Panettiere’s mom, Lesley Vogel, is talking publicly about her daughter’s dying for the primary time, and she or he is directing a few of her strongest phrases towards the actress’ on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. Vogel mirrored on the stress Panettiere skilled after getting into the leisure trade as an toddler, whereas acknowledging that her daughter had struggled to discover a more healthy path.
She additionally mentioned she takes consolation in believing Panettiere has reunited together with her youthful brother, Jansen, who died in 2023. “I feel Hayden was an amazingly proficient particular person in so many departments and I feel younger individuals who develop up within the leisure trade, it’s a battle and it’s a really difficult trade and it’s commonplace for them to sadly discover the incorrect path,” Vogel instructed NBC News.
Panettiere died Sunday, August 16, on the age of 36 after being discovered unresponsive inside a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. As her household continues processing the loss, Vogel mentioned she finds some solace in imagining her two kids collectively once more.
Jansen Panettiere died at 28 in February 2023 resulting from cardiomegaly and aortic valve issues. “I simply really feel that she’s together with her brother and so they’re at peace,” Vogel mentioned.
Panettiere had been open concerning the profound grief she skilled following her youthful brother’s dying. Now, her mom is utilizing that shut relationship to seek out consolation amid one other devastating loss.
Vogel’s assertion additionally addressed the challenges that adopted Panettiere all through her life, together with rising up onscreen, dependancy and the household conflicts described in her not too long ago launched memoir.
Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Blasts Brian Hickerson
Vogel additionally criticized Hickerson, who was reportedly on the residence the place Panettiere died. “This particular person in her life that we’ve got been making an attempt to eliminate for fairly a while was together with her at her dying, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Vogel mentioned.
The assertion makes clear that Vogel and different members of Panettiere’s household objected to Hickerson’s continued presence within the actress’ life. Nevertheless, authorities haven’t accused Hickerson of inflicting her dying or introduced any discovering of foul play.
In line with a Greenville Metropolis Police Division incident report, officers spoke with Hickerson and his brother, Zach, on the scene. The responding officer documented their habits whereas emergency personnel tried to revive Panettiere.
“After EMS formally declared Hayden deceased, I escorted Zach and Brian out of the condominium,” the police report acknowledged. “I noticed Zach to be very emotional whereas EMS have been engaged on Hayden. Brian didn’t grow to be emotional till EMS declared her formally deceased.”
The officer’s account describes the habits witnessed on the residence however doesn’t allege felony conduct by both man.
Hayden And Her Mom Had been Estranged Earlier than Her Dying
Vogel’s assertion comes after months of public rigidity surrounding her relationship with Panettiere. In her Might 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” the actress mentioned how Vogel’s roles as her mom and supervisor grew to become more and more troublesome to separate.
Panettiere started performing at simply 8 months outdated, with Vogel managing her profession all through a lot of her childhood. As she grew older, the actress mentioned their relationship grew to become dominated by skilled duties as an alternative of a standard mother-daughter dynamic.
“Every thing was enterprise,” Panettiere recalled throughout a Might look on “On Purpose with Jay Shetty.” “I grew to become the confidant and the assistant and the therapist and the shoulder to cry on and every part however her youngster.”
Panettiere mentioned she tried to vary the connection at age 19 whereas engaged on “Heroes.” “I mentioned to her, ‘I don’t need us to work collectively anymore. I simply need you to be my mother,’ ” she recalled.
In line with Panettiere, Vogel responded, “You owe me.”
The Actress Stated The Rift Was A ‘Robust Tablet To Swallow’
Panettiere defined that she entered the dialog hoping ending their skilled association would permit them to rebuild their private bond. “I keep in mind being hopeful,” she mentioned.
The actress later described the result as “disappointing,” believing her mom’s response referred to cash. “The truth that she didn’t care to have a relationship with me was a troublesome tablet to swallow,” Panettiere added.
Vogel publicly challenged that model of occasions when the memoir was launched and confirmed that the 2 girls have been not talking. She recommended that “the current drama is partially to promote books” and mentioned she had chosen to finish contact after “20 years of trauma.”
“As many dad and mom of leisure kids [know], we’re all too conversant in the painful statement of watching the self-destructive paths they generally select. No father or mother hopes for this state of affairs; we wish our kids to be the perfect of themselves and stay a peaceable, joyful life!” Vogel mentioned. “Sadly, that is out of our management. You can not save somebody who doesn’t wish to be saved.”
Vogel concluded her earlier assertion by expressing hope that Panettiere would ultimately “discover her path to inside peace.”
Hayden Panettiere’s Trigger Of Dying Stays Unknown
Emergency companies responded Sunday to a report of an “unresponsive feminine” who was later identified as Panettiere. First responders reportedly tried to resuscitate the “Nashville” star utilizing “superior cardiac life assist,” together with CPR, treatment, respiration tubes and monitoring of her coronary heart rhythm. Panettiere was pronounced lifeless after paramedics have been unable to revive her.
Dispatch audio from the emergency response included references to an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest.” Nevertheless, an official reason for dying has not been launched. Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is constant.
“The case is beneath investigation by the Greenville Police Division along with the Greenville County Coroner’s Workplace,” officers mentioned in a press release. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any indicators of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere positioned the 911 name.”
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she welcomed in December 2014 with former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whom she separated from in 2018. Kaya subsequently relocated to Ukraine to stay together with her father whereas the actress confronted postpartum despair and alcohol and opioid dependancy.
