Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has spoken publicly about her estrangement from her daughter and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the actress’s death.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Vogel said that although she and her daughter had become estranged, the separation was not due to a lack of love or concern. She alleged that a “toxic individual” in Panettiere’s life had contributed to her death.
In an earlier interview with NBC News, Vogel specifically named Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, saying the family had long been concerned about his presence in her life and that he was with the actress when she died.
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, with police conducting a probe and the Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly also involved.
Following Vogel’s comments, Hickerson responded through his attorney, Sloan Ellis, who stressed that the investigation was still underway and should be allowed to proceed.
His lawyer also pointed to previous statements from police indicating that no signs of foul play had been found, and said Hickerson would not comment further out of respect for Panettiere’s family and the ongoing investigation.