Insights into Panettiere's Physical and Emotional State
Lesley Vogel, the estranged mother of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has shared details regarding the health struggles her daughter faced prior to her untimely death at the age of 36. Speaking with The New York Times, Vogel recalled the time she spent with the actress in Los Angeles last year, describing her as being in significant distress.
«She was in pain,» Vogel stated. «She was afraid. She couldn’t physically function properly.»
According to Vogel, she sought medical assistance for her daughter, exploring various treatments, including acupuncture and massage, to address a persistent «pins and needles» sensation in her lower extremities. While the exact medical cause of these symptoms remained unidentified, the actress speculated that they might have stemmed from injuries sustained on various film sets during her childhood. Fitness expert Marnie Alton, who began working with Panettiere earlier in 2024, noted that the actress was deeply committed to her physical and mental recovery.
The Circumstances Surrounding Her Passing
Panettiere passed away in South Carolina earlier this month, leaving behind her daughter, Kaya, and her parents. While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, an autopsy indicated no signs of physical trauma. Reports confirm that Brian Hickerson, with whom the actress had an intermittent relationship, and his brother, Zach, were present at the scene.
Brian Hickerson’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, issued a statement following the event: «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.»
Hickerson himself provided an account of the final moments, claiming that he and his brother attempted to revive Panettiere after discovering her unresponsive. He stated that they administered Narcan and performed CPR while awaiting emergency services.
Conflicting Perspectives and Allegations
Despite these accounts, Vogel has publicly disputed Hickerson's narrative, expressing her belief that he bears responsibility for her daughter's passing. Furthermore, the relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson was marred by additional controversy.
In her interview, Vogel alleged that Hickerson had pawned several of her daughter's personal belongings, including a vintage guitar, without her consent. Vogel claimed that Panettiere was «shocked» to discover her property in a storage unit associated with Hickerson. An anonymous source cited by The New York Times corroborated the claim that Hickerson had sold items belonging to the actress.