'I Think He Knew She Was Deceased': Hayden Panettiere's Mum Claims Ex 'Tried and Built This Story'

The mother of actress Hayden Panettiere, Lesley Vogel, seriously doubted the testimony of her Brian Hickerson regarding her death. Hickerson was Panettiere's ex-boyfriend and was with her when she was found dead in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. She was 36.

Vogel believes Hickerson had left out crucial information in his statement to the authorities surrounding Panettiere's death. Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present at the scene when emergency responders arrived.

According to Vogel, Hickerson allegedly told the authorities that he had left the apartment around 10:30 AM and saw Panettiere putting on makeup, then took a nap when he returned. He did not mention seeing or interacting with her when he returned. He was awakened by his brother's knocking, and then they found the actress unresponsive.

Vogel Not Convinced by Hickerson's Story

Vogel was skeptical about the credibility of Hickerson's testimony considering that Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found at the scene. The police report noted that Hickerson had shown them the bag of Narcan that Panettiere was using.

'I don't know how you can take a nap near someone who's dying and not realise something's wrong. How do you do that? When the EMTs came, it was for a cardiac arrest. People in cardiac arrest aren't just lying still. They make noise,' Vogel said.

'I think Brian called his brother. My opinion. I think he knew she was deceased. Called his brother, and tried and built this story,'

Hickerson and Panettiere have had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship, which came to a head when he got arrested for domestic battery in 2020 after punching her while inebriated. In 2022, Panettiere said she had forgiven Hickerson.

According to insiders, Panettiere did not inform her loved ones that she had gotten back with Hickerson. 'If Brian was back in her life, then it was something she was hiding because she wasn't speaking about it with many of her friends.'

Vogel was vocal about her disapproval of their relationship. '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.'

Panettiere's Fraught History With Her Mother

Vogel and Panettiere had been estranged from each other since the actress was 19. Vogel was also Panettiere's manager, and this drove a rift between them.

'She's a very complex person,' Panettiere said in an interview before her death. 'I don't want to offend anybody, or drag anybody, or hurt anyone's feelings. But I knew that if I wasn't honest about my relationship with her, I wouldn't be being honest at all. She's a huge part of the person I am today.'

Panettiere had cut professional ties with Vogel when she was 19. In her memoir, she revealed that she had called her to Vogel trailer and begged her to just be her mother.

'All I wanted was a dynamic that didn't involve contracts, producers, boho tops, or drinking wine at industry parties.' Panettiere wrote.

Panettiere claimed Vogel 'picked up her purse, clenched her jaw, and looked straight at me. 'You owe me,' she answered. Then she turned around and walked out of my trailer ... I knew I'd done the right thing, but I sensed something in me had died.'

Vogel's treatment of her daughter drew scathing remarks from CBS Mornings host Gayle King after Panettiere's death.

'You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing,' King said. 'It makes me so sad of the opportunity that you have after your daughter's death that that's what you choose to leave us with.'

Vogel fired back at King. 'I was very, very hurt and deeply disappointed in the lack of professionalism, the lack of compassion in slamming someone who's lost two children, without even a modicum of consideration.'

The authorities have not confirmed Panettiere's cause of death, and have found no evidence of foul play. Hickerson has not been accused of any wrongdoing surrounding her death. According to reports, it may take 8 to 12 weeks for her autopsy to be finalised.