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Hayden Panettiere's Mom Speaks On Ex Brian Hickerson
Lesley Vogel, Hayden Panettiere's estranged mother, has publicly disputed the account given by Brian Hickerson, the actress's on-again, off-again boyfriend, regarding the day Panettiere died. Vogel alleges inconsistencies in the timeline and claims Hickerson had to leave to obtain Narcan, raising questions about the circumstances. Authorities have not accused anyone of wrongdoing, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, is publicly questioning the account provided by Brian Hickerson, the actress's on-again, off-again boyfriend, about the day she died. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Vogel alleged that Hickerson's story is "full of holes," pointing to what she called discrepancies in the timeline.
According to Vogel, Hickerson told police he last saw Panettiere doing her makeup on the morning of her death at their Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, before stepping out. He said he returned, took a nap, and only woke when his brother, Zach Hickerson, knocked on the door. Together, they found Panettiere unresponsive.
Vogel claimed she spoke to a police officer at the scene and told the officer she thought Hickerson was "culpable" when asked about him. She also questioned how someone could "take a nap near someone who's dying and not realize something's wrong."
Narcan Found at the Scene
Panettiere was later declared dead from an apparent overdose. TMZ reported that Narcan — a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses — was found at the scene.
Vogel alleged, "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."
Official Response and Investigation
Attorney Sloan Ellis, representing Hickerson, said the investigation into Panettiere's death remains ongoing. Ellis noted that police confirmed no signs of foul play and that there would be no further comment out of respect for the investigation and those involved.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation alongside Greenville police and the coroner's office. Authorities have not accused anyone of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with Panettiere's death.
Background of a Tumultuous Relationship
Panettiere and Hickerson met in 2018 and had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship. Hickerson was arrested multiple times for domestic violence against Panettiere, including charges in 2020 to which he pleaded no contest to injuring a spouse or partner and served time in jail.
In 2020, Panettiere released a statement saying she was coming forward so her story would empower others in abusive relationships and that she was prepared to make sure Hickerson never hurt anyone again. She also wrote about his abuse in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May.
Vogel claimed Hickerson pawned some of Panettiere's belongings, including a vintage guitar, and that Panettiere was shocked to find some of her possessions in his storage unit. Another source corroborated that he pawned or sold some of her items. Hickerson filed for bankruptcy in 2022, listing about $25,700 in assets and roughly $60,000 in debt.
A Mother's Grief and Defense
Vogel, who said she was estranged from Panettiere for years, has faced criticism for her public statements following her daughter's death. Gayle King on CBS Mornings said, "Thanks, Mom, for nothing," expressing sadness that Vogel chose to leave the public with that message. Megyn Kelly said Vogel "failed as a parent," got "an F as a parent," made money off her daughter, and called her a "loser."
Vogel told the Daily Mail she was "very hurt and deeply disappointed" by the lack of professionalism and compassion from critics who, she said, "slammed someone who has lost two children without contacting her first," calling it "shameful and unconscionable."
On Good Morning America, Vogel said critics do not have a right to tell her how to mourn the loss of her second child, adding she was "numb and still not grasping that Hayden's death is real."
Vogel denied she was abusive or pressured Hayden to succeed, saying she was "strong but not abusive," that Hayden put pressure on herself, and that she never expected Hayden to be a professional actor when she started modeling at eight months with Wilhelmina.
Recollections of Hayden's Struggles
Vogel said she saw Hayden going downhill after becoming a star on Heroes around age 16–17. In her memoir, Panettiere claimed that at 19 she told Vogel she no longer wanted her to manage her career and Vogel replied, "You owe me." Vogel denied saying that.
According to the New York Times, about a year before her death, Panettiere was in severe physical pain with pins-and-needles in her lower extremities that made it hard to walk. They sought doctors, massage, and acupuncture, and Panettiere wondered if it related to injuries from child acting.
Fitness expert Marnie Alton, who worked with Panettiere from 2024, said Panettiere was "fighting hard to rebuild her strength."
Vogel said she stayed with Panettiere for about six weeks when Panettiere wanted to leave Hickerson, then gave an ultimatum that she could not remain in Panettiere's life if Hickerson was part of it. That led to estrangement she expected to be temporary.
In a May interview with ABC News, Panettiere said trying to maintain a relationship with her mother had been "tough" and it was obvious it was not going to become a healthy mother-daughter relationship.
Vogel said on GMA that Hayden knew Brian was toxic and had to get him out of her life, and that she "lost it" when Hayden called saying she was going to be with the person she loved.
Remembering Hayden
Panettiere was mother to an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who received full custody of her.
Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere were also parents to a son, Jansen, who died aged 28 in 2023 from aortic valve complications arising from an enlarged heart.
Vogel said she wants Hayden remembered as "the talented, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was."
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimHayden Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 after being found unresponsive in cardiac arrest at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
ClaimBrian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the scene when Panettiere was found unresponsive, and a police report identified them as the 911 callers.
ClaimAccording to a police report, Zach Hickerson was very emotional when EMS worked on Panettiere, while Brian Hickerson did not become emotional until EMS declared her deceased.
ClaimZach Hickerson told TMZ that when they found Panettiere unconscious, he called 911 while Brian administered Narcan and they jointly performed CPR until EMS arrived.
ClaimLesley Vogel told the Daily Mail that Brian Hickerson's account of the day Panettiere died is 'full of holes' and that she told a police officer at the scene she thought Hickerson was 'culpable.'
ClaimAccording to Lesley Vogel, Brian Hickerson told police he last saw Panettiere doing her makeup Sunday morning, left, returned, took a nap, and only woke when Zach knocked, at which point they found her unresponsive.
ClaimLesley Vogel alleged Brian Hickerson likely had to go out and buy Narcan rather than already having two bottles, and that he called his brother after knowing Panettiere was deceased to build a story.
ClaimAttorney Sloan Ellis said Hayden's death remains under investigation, police confirmed no signs of foul play, and there would be no further comment out of respect for loved ones and the investigation.
ClaimThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into Panettiere's death alongside Greenville police and the coroner's office.
ClaimLesley Vogel said in a statement to NBC News that young people who grow up in the entertainment industry often struggle and that Hayden sadly lost her way, and that Brian Hickerson—whom the family had tried to get rid of—was with her at her death.
ClaimIn a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Lesley Vogel said that although she and Hayden were estranged, it was due to the involvement of a toxic individual she believes led to Hayden's death.
ClaimLesley Vogel claimed Brian Hickerson pawned some of Hayden Panettiere's belongings, including a vintage guitar, and that Panettiere was shocked to find some of her possessions in his storage unit; another source corroborated that he pawned or sold some of her items.
ClaimBrian Hickerson was arrested multiple times for domestic violence against Panettiere, including charges in 2020 to which he pleaded no contest to injuring a spouse or partner and served time in jail.
ClaimNeighbor Mia Terrazas told Page Six she saw Panettiere taken out of her Los Angeles apartment on a gurney by firefighters on July 29, 2023, and January 16, 2024, with bright red spots and bruises, and that Hickerson was present both times.
ClaimIn her memoir, Panettiere claimed that at 19 she told Vogel she no longer wanted her to manage her career and Vogel replied 'You owe me'; Vogel denied saying that.
ClaimLesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere were also parents to a son, Jansen, who died aged 28 in 2023 from aortic valve complications arising from an enlarged heart.
ClaimGayle King criticized Vogel's post-death statement on CBS Mornings, saying 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing' and that she was sad that was what Vogel chose to leave the public with after her daughter's death.
ClaimLesley Vogel told the Daily Mail she was very hurt and deeply disappointed by the lack of professionalism and compassion from critics who slammed someone who has lost two children without contacting her first, calling it shameful and unconscionable.
ClaimOn Good Morning America, Lesley Vogel said critics do not have a right to tell her how to mourn the loss of her second child and that she was numb and still not grasping that Hayden's death is real.
ClaimLesley Vogel denied she was abusive or pressured Hayden to succeed, saying she was strong but not abusive, that Hayden put pressure on herself, and that she never expected Hayden to be a professional actor when she started modeling at eight months with Wilhelmina.
ClaimLesley Vogel told the New York Times that about a year before Hayden's death, Hayden was in severe physical pain with pins-and-needles in her lower extremities that made it hard to walk, and they sought doctors, massage, and acupuncture; Hayden wondered if it related to child-acting injuries.
ClaimAccording to the New York Times, Panettiere gave private security clear instructions to keep Brian Hickerson away from her Manhattan Barnes & Noble book-signing event in May, and the store was told not to admit him.
ClaimLesley Vogel said she stayed with Panettiere about six weeks when Panettiere wanted to leave Hickerson, then gave an ultimatum that she could not remain in Panettiere's life if Hickerson was part of it, leading to estrangement she expected to be temporary.
ClaimIn a May interview with ABC News, Panettiere said trying to maintain a relationship with her mother had been tough and it was obvious it was not going to become a healthy mother-daughter relationship.
ClaimLesley Vogel said on GMA that Hayden knew Brian was toxic and had to get him out of her life, and that she lost it when Hayden called saying she was going to be with the person she loved.
ClaimHickerson's LinkedIn listed him as an executive assistant to a high-profile confidential client with around-the-clock support duties, and Vogel said Hayden had hired him as her assistant.
ClaimIn 2020 after domestic violence charges, Panettiere released a statement saying she was coming forward so her story would empower others in abusive relationships and that she was prepared to make sure Hickerson never hurt anyone again.