Hayden Panettiere’s mother is publicly questioning the timeline surrounding her daughter’s final hours as investigators continue working to determine what caused the Heroes and Nashville star’s death at 36.
Lesley Vogel told the Daily Mail she has doubts about the account of what happened Aug. 16 at the Greenville, South Carolina, residence where Panettiere was found unresponsive.
According to a police report, Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the property when emergency responders arrived.
Authorities have said there were no signs of trauma or foul play. An official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined, and toxicology results remain pending.
Vogel said she believes the timeline she has been given is “full of holes,” particularly around when Panettiere was last seen responsive and when emergency help was called.
“I don’t know how you can take a nap near someone who’s dying and not realize something’s wrong,” Vogel said.
She also raised questions about the use of Narcan at the scene and suggested discrepancies in the account of when and how it was obtained.
Investigators have not substantiated those allegations, and police have not accused Brian or Zach Hickerson of involvement in Panettiere’s death.
Zach Hickerson separately told TMZ that he arrived at the residence, woke Brian from a nap and then realized Panettiere was unconscious.
“I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan,” he said. “We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived.”
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Emergency radio communications reportedly included a reference to an overdose, but authorities have not determined that an overdose caused Panettiere’s death.
Brian Hickerson’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, declined to respond specifically to Vogel’s allegations and instead pointed to an earlier statement. “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Ellis said. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
Panettiere’s death has also renewed attention around her past relationship with Hickerson, which she discussed in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.
Hickerson pleaded no contest in 2021 to two felony counts connected to domestic violence against Panettiere and later publicly acknowledged abusing her.
Vogel has also spoken about the estrangement between herself and her daughter, saying on Good Morning America that their relationship had become strained before Panettiere’s death. “Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love,” Vogel previously said.
She has also publicly suggested that a “toxic individual” contributed to Panettiere’s death. Authorities have not supported that allegation.
The Greenville County investigation remains ongoing as officials await toxicology findings.
