Lesley Vogel, mother of actress Hayden Panettiere, sat down with NBC News for her first public comments since her daughter’s death. Vogel said her daughter was a talented person who faced the pressures of a demanding entertainment industry, noting that many young people in that world can be pushed onto the wrong path.
Concerns about boyfriend’s presence
Vogel disclosed that Hayden’s on‑again, off‑again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was in the South Carolina apartment when she died on Sunday afternoon. She said the family had been trying to distance Hayden from Hickerson for years and that his presence at the time of death was troubling.
The Greenville Police Department’s report indicates Hickerson and his brother Zach were inside the Judson Mill Lofts complex when emergency services responded to a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest. The report notes Hickerson did not show visible emotion until Hayden was pronounced dead, and that he presented officers with a bag of medication Hayden was taking.
History of concern
Vogel explained that the family’s worries about Hickerson date back to 2020, when Hayden filed a restraining order as their romantic relationship appeared to end. She added that Hickerson’s past includes a 2019 arrest for allegedly injuring a spouse or girlfriend, a no‑contest plea in 2021, and a sentence of four years’ probation the following year.
“There is a lot of history that Brian has enabled Hayden many times,” Vogel said. “That is why her father and I have been concerned for a long time about him and his family.”
Ongoing investigation
Vogel said she will cooperate with detectives to learn why Hayden and Hickerson were in South Carolina, where Hickerson is from, at the time of the incident. She emphasized that she has not spoken with her daughter since October, choosing to limit contact for “specific reasons,” though she continues to care deeply for her.
The autopsy, completed Monday, found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death, and the cause of death remains pending further investigation.
Family background
Hayden Panettiere, 36, rose to fame as a child, appearing in commercials before age one, starring in a soap opera at four, and later gaining recognition for roles in “Remember the Titans,” “Heroes,” and “Nashville,” earning two Golden Globe nominations. She had previously spoken about the loss of her brother Jansen, who died in 2023 from cardiomegaly and aortic valve complications.
In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released in May 2026, Hayden discussed a strained relationship with her mother, adding personal context to Vogel’s recent remarks.
Vogel concluded by expressing a wish that Hayden had remained true to herself, noting that she believes her daughter is now at peace with her brother.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
