Lesley Vogel has questioned the account of her daughter Hayden Panettiere's death in Greenville, South Carolina, calling the narrative provided by Brian Hickerson full of holes.
Panettiere, 36, was declared dead on Sunday, August 16, five days before her 37th birthday, after being found unresponsive in an armchair inside a luxury apartment loft at the Judson Mill complex.
In an exclusive hour-long interview with the Daily Mail, Vogel, 70, said she pressured South Carolina law enforcement to investigate the tragedy and raised serious questions regarding Hickerson's version of events. Vogel recalled asking a police officer at the scene if there would be a further investigation, to which the officer asked: "Well, what do you think about Brian Hickerson?"
The Drug Enforcement Administration has since joined the investigation. Hickerson has not been accused of any crime, and the Daily Mail makes no suggestion of wrongdoing.
According to Vogel, Hickerson told police that Panettiere was doing her makeup inside the Greenville Airbnb at around 10:30am before he went out. Vogel said Hickerson claimed he returned later and went to take a nap, without mentioning seeing or speaking to Panettiere again, before his brother Zachary knocked at the door and Panettiere was discovered unresponsive.
Questions Surrounding Death Scene
Vogel pointed to unexplained gaps in Hickerson's account, particularly regarding Narcan, which Zachary claimed Brian had administered to Panettiere.
Vogel expressed skepticism over Hickerson's claim that he was asleep while Panettiere was dying. "I don't know how you can take a nap near someone who's dying and not realize something's wrong. How do you do that?" Vogel said. "When the EMTs came it was for a cardiac arrest. People in cardiac arrest aren't just lying still. They make noise."
Vogel voiced her belief that Hickerson knew Panettiere was dead before calling his brother. "I think Brian called his brother. My opinion. I think he knew she was deceased. Called his brother, and tried and built this story," she said.
Hickerson addressed Panettiere's death through his attorney Sloan Ellis on Thursday, saying: "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time." Hickerson did not respond to requests for comment.
Greenville police officers previously arrived at a South Carolina home linked to Brian and Zach Hickerson to conduct a welfare check, knocking repeatedly on the door of the four-bedroom home without receiving any response.
Response to Media Criticism
Vogel also condemned public attacks from media figures, including CBS broadcaster Gayle King and podcaster Megyn Kelly, following Panettiere's death.
King criticized a brief statement Vogel made saying Panettiere had "lost her way," stating on air: "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... Thanks, Mom, for nothing."
Kelly offered harsher criticism, saying: "You failed at your job... You got an F as a parent. You made a bunch of money off of your daughter. You probably have a super nice car and a big house. You failed. You raised someone to the age of majority who doesn't feel safe, loved, or cherished. You're a loser."
Vogel described the comments as shameful and unconscionable. "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," Vogel said. "No one reached out to me before. It's shameful. It's unconscionable to me."
Vogel previously lost her 28-year-old son Jansen in 2023 to unexpected heart issues. Jansen and Hayden were raised by Vogel and their father Skip.
Reflecting on her grief, Vogel said: "There is infinite sadness. But this is not the time for me to be weak. I don't have the luxury right now of being weak. I have too much to do for Hayden. When I'm done with that, then I will give myself the luxury to mourn, deeply mourn."
Child Acting Career and Family History
Vogel also responded to portrayals of her parenting in Panettiere's May 2026 memoir, "This is Me: A Reckoning," where Panettiere described herself as a "little soldier" forced into acting and depicted Vogel as more manager than mother.
Vogel defended enrolling Panettiere with the Wilhelmina modeling agency at eight months old, with work starting at 11 months. "My thought then was, let her do some stuff, we'll put it in her college fund, and she'll go to college and she'll have this. I never expected her to be a professional actor, never," Vogel said.
Panettiere appeared in over 50 commercials as a child. She landed her first soap opera role at age four playing Sarah Roberts on "One Life to Live," and at age seven was cast as Lizzie Spaulding on "Guiding Light," where she memorized 20 to 40 pages of script daily.
Soap co-stars Beth Chamberlin, who played Panettiere's mother on "Guiding Light" for three years, and John Loprieno, who played her father on "One Life to Live," recalled Panettiere happily skipping into the studio and feeling safe with Vogel present.
Vogel denied being abusive, stating: "I was strong, definitely, but I was not abusive by any stretch of the imagination. I think that Hayden put a pressure on herself." Vogel added that parents cannot force young children to act against their will.
Relationship Dynamics and Estate Closure
Vogel said her relationship with Panettiere changed around age 16 or 17. Panettiere later experienced a difficult period involving postpartum depression and substance abuse after relinquishing custody of her daughter Kaya to former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Vogel described Hickerson, who previously served jail time for beating Panettiere and faced domestic abuse charges, as a "loser" with no money or career who was supported by Panettiere. Vogel said: "When Brian came into her life, the changes started to occur. Very early in the game, I thought he's a modern-day gigolo."
Vogel stated that she eventually went no-contact with Panettiere because she could not break their toxic codependent bond. "I had to go no contact because I could not help her anymore. I could not change this pattern, and believe me, I tried. I didn't leave because I didn't care about her or didn't love her. I put so much effort in trying to save her. You cannot save someone who doesn't want to be saved," Vogel said.
Vogel contrasted Klitschko, calling him "one of the most exceptional people I've ever met," with Hickerson, stating Panettiere sought someone who did not make her feel inadequate.
Vogel remains in contact with 11-year-old Kaya, who lives in Ukraine with Klitschko, speaks five languages, and competes as a hunter jumper. Because Panettiere died without a will, California law dictates her estate will likely pass entirely to Kaya.
Vogel stated she is focused on overseeing the investigation and settling her daughter's estate. "There's a journey ahead here. I feel like I'm willing to take it on. That's my MO. That's what I do. That's my job," Vogel said.
