Hayden Panettiere's estranged mother has spoken publicly for the first time since the actress's death, criticizing her daughter's on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson. Lesley Vogel, 70, told NBC News that Hickerson was with Panettiere when she died and that the family had been trying to remove him from her life for some time.
Vogel's statement and family background
Vogel said: "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. I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry - it is a struggle, and it's a very challenging industry, and it's not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."
She added: "I just feel that she's with her brother and they're at peace." Panettiere's younger brother Jansen died unexpectedly from a heart attack aged 28 in 2023. Panettiere was found dead in her South Carolina apartment on Sunday afternoon, reportedly from a suspected cardiac arrest.
Details of the death and Hickerson's history
Emergency responders confirmed an "acquaintance" of Panettiere's contacted them reporting someone in "cardiac arrest" before they reached her residence. According to a heavily-redacted police incident report obtained by NBC News, Hickerson presented officers with a "bag of medication" Panettiere was taking at the time of her death.
Panettiere began seeing Hickerson, 37, in 2018, with reports suggesting her friends and family were "deeply concerned" about the relationship. In May 2019, Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence following an incident at Panettiere's residence. In April 2021, he pleaded guilty to two felony charges of harming a spouse or girlfriend after incidents between May 2019 and January 2020.
Legal consequences and aftermath
Hickerson received a 45-day prison sentence, serving 33 days, along with four years of probation, compulsory domestic violence courses, and a five-year restraining order. Despite this, the couple were seen together in July 2021. During their relationship, Hickerson described Vogel as "by far one of the worst people I've ever met in my life," adding: "She's terrible."
