Hayden Panettiere's Mom Lesley Vogel Says Daughter 'Knew Brian Hickerson Was Toxic' Before Her Death: 'She Had to Get Him Out of Her Life'

Hayden Panettiere's estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, revealed more about the late actress' complicated relationship with Brian Hickerson in the months before her death.

During an emotional interview on Monday, August 24, Vogel recalled trying to convince her daughter to end the troubled relationship for good.

"She knew that Brian was toxic," Vogel shared during her Good Morning America interview. "She knew she had to get him out of her life."

Vogel explained that she traveled to be with her daughter one year before her death and stayed with her for six weeks.

The mom thought progress was being made, but the situation changed after Vogel returned home and learned her daughter had reconciled with Hickerson.

"When I got the phone call from her saying, 'I'm going to be with the person I love.'... I just lost it," Vogel recalled. "I could not believe that she had gone that far back, that he had been successful in reeling her back in, with all of the things he had done to her."

Panettiere and Hickerson's relationship had been on and off for years after they began dating in 2018.

Hickerson faced domestic violence charges involving Panettiere, including a 2020 case that resulted in him serving 33 days in jail, according to Us Weekly.

Vogel said she eventually followed advice from her therapist and drew a hard line with her daughter, telling Panettiere she would not continue speaking with her if Hickerson remained in her life.

"I needed it. I needed to have that pocket of time," Vogel explained, reflecting on the estrangement.

"I did not by any stretch of the imagination think that this was going to happen to Hayden... Maybe I didn't want to," the grieving mother added about Panettiere's death.

The Nashville star had previously spoken publicly about how difficult it could be to permanently separate from an abusive partner, sharing in a May interview with Us Weekly, "Getting an abusive person out of your life is like trying to rip a weed out that is so entangled into your life."

"Every time you pull it out, another weed pops back up and you're like, 'I thought I killed this,'" the late actress continued. "They always manage to find a way to slither back into your life, even if you're an incredibly strong-willed person."

Panettiere died of a suspected overdose on August 16 after traveling to South Carolina with Hickerson.

Though Hickerson was at the apartment where the star was found un responsive, police said there were no signs of foul play. An official cause of death has not been released.

Hickerson addressed Panettiere's death through his attorney, Sloan Ellis, four days later.

"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis told Us Weekly. "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," the lawyer added.