Hayden Panettiere's Mom Lesley Vogel Has 'Questions' About Daughter's Sudden Death Amid Criticism, Blames 'Estrangement' on 'Toxic Individual'

Hayden Panettiere’s mom, Lesley Vogel, responded to criticism about her turbulent relationship with her late daughter, blaming their estrangement on a "toxic individual."

"Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love," Vogel, 70, said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, August 20. "It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death."⁠

Vogel, who managed her daughter's career until she was 19, called her a "beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person."

"Although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful," the statement continued. "It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened. And I think we are all looking for answers."⁠

As OK! previously reported, Panettiere died at 36 on Sunday, August 16, after being found unresponsive in an apartment in South Carolina.

Though Vogel didn't explicitly name the "wrong person" her daughter "became involved with," Panettiere's on-and-off partner Brian Hickerson was at the scene of her death.

Brian's brother Zach Hickerson reportedly discovered Hayden in the living room while his sibling slept in another room.

Though her cause of death is still pending, emergency services responded to a call around 1:52 p.m. regarding an "unidentified female" in "cardiac arrest" following a suspected overdose, according to 911 dispatch audio.

Despite first responders attempting life-saving measures on the scene, she was pronounced dead less than an hour later. Narcan, a nasal spray intended to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was also reportedly found on a mattress nearby, though it's unclear who it was administered to.

TMZ reported on Wednesday, August 19, that her "unexpected death" has sparked a police investigation into possible criminal conduct. That same day, police were spotted at Brian's grandmother's home, which is five miles away from where Hayden died.

Hayden's mom directly blasted Brian, 37, whom the late actress first started dating in 2018, in her first statement following her daughter's death on Tuesday, August 18.

"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," the talent manager told NBC News.

"I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments," she continued. "I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it's a very challenging industry and it's not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."

Brian had a known history of abuse toward the Ice Princess actress, and he was sentenced to 45 days in prison in 2021 after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring her.

Hayden also spoke about the abuse she faced in her May memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, including a time when he beat her up so badly she didn't "leave the house for weeks."