Hayden Panettiere’s family is facing another devastating loss after the actress died suddenly at the age of 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, three years after the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. As investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened, Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, 70, has broken her silence, speaking openly about her grief and her longstanding concerns over her daughter’s relationship with Brian Hickerson. Hickerson, 37, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, was reportedly at the residence when she died Sunday. Emergency communications referenced a possible overdose and cardiac arrest, although authorities have not officially established an overdose as the cause of death. An autopsy found no signs of trauma, and the final cause remains under investigation pending further testing.

Vogel did not hide her feelings about Hickerson, whose turbulent history with Panettiere included domestic violence cases and jail time. Speaking after her daughter’s death, Vogel described him as someone the family had been trying for years to remove from Hayden’s life. She said both she and Hayden’s father had been deeply worried about Hickerson’s influence and claimed he had enabled Hayden on numerous occasions. Those concerns became even more painful for Vogel after learning that Hickerson had been present around the time of her daughter’s final moments. A police report released after the actress’s death confirmed that Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the apartment when emergency responders arrived.

Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship had been complicated for years. They were first linked in 2018 and continued an on-and-off relationship that became the subject of public scrutiny because of multiple domestic violence incidents. Hickerson was previously convicted in connection with abuse involving Panettiere and served jail time. Despite their troubled past, the pair had been seen together again in more recent months. Vogel said she had always believed the two remained involved, even when the exact nature of their relationship was unclear publicly. For Panettiere’s family, Hickerson’s presence at the scene has therefore revived painful memories of a relationship they had long viewed with alarm. However, authorities have said there were no signs of trauma or foul play in Panettiere’s death.

Vogel also reflected on her daughter’s extraordinary talent and the difficulties that accompanied growing up in entertainment. Panettiere began acting as a child and eventually became internationally recognized through projects including Heroes and Nashville. Her mother remembered her as remarkably gifted in many areas but said the pressures surrounding young performers can make it difficult for them to remain grounded. Vogel suggested that her daughter had eventually lost her way despite possessing enormous talent and many admirable qualities. Panettiere herself had spoken publicly about struggles with addiction, depression and the emotional consequences of spending much of her life in the spotlight, experiences she also addressed in her 2026 memoir.

The tragedy is especially crushing for Vogel because Hayden is the second of her children to die at a young age. Her son Jansen died in 2023 when he was only 28. While discussing the two losses, Vogel became emotional and expressed her hope that Hayden was now reunited with her younger brother and that both had finally found peace. Jansen’s death had been profoundly difficult for Panettiere as well, and she had spoken about the impact losing him had on her life. Now their mother is confronting the unimaginable experience of grieving both of her children within just a few years, turning an already painful family history into another devastating chapter.

Questions also remain about the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s final hours. Emergency personnel were called to a Greenville residence on Sunday afternoon after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman in cardiac arrest. Dispatch communications obtained by news organizations also contained references to an overdose. Vogel questioned aspects of the timing, saying it struck her as unusual in the context of what she understood about the circumstances. Police and emergency responders attempted to save Panettiere, but she was ultimately pronounced dead. Investigators have emphasized that the official cause of death has not yet been determined, while the autopsy found no trauma contributing to her death. Toxicology testing is expected to provide additional answers.

Vogel also revealed that her relationship with Hayden had become distant before the actress’s death. She said their last conversation took place in October and that they exchanged some text messages afterward, though they had not communicated recently. According to Vogel, the distance was intentional on her part and resulted from specific circumstances rather than an absence of love or concern for her daughter. She made clear that ending regular contact had been a painful decision, particularly because she remained worried about Hayden’s well-being. At the time of her interview, Vogel said she still had limited information about exactly what happened because the investigation remained active, but she expected to speak directly with a detective as authorities continued gathering evidence.

For now, Panettiere’s death leaves her family with grief as well as unanswered questions. Vogel’s comments have placed renewed attention on Hickerson and the family’s longstanding concerns about his relationship with Hayden, but investigators have not accused him of causing Panettiere’s death, and authorities have said there is currently no indication of foul play. What is established is that Hickerson was at the residence, that emergency communications referenced cardiac arrest and a possible overdose, and that the definitive cause of death remains pending. As Vogel mourns a daughter she remembered as immensely talented yet deeply challenged by the pressures and struggles surrounding her life, she is also mourning the second child she has lost in three years. For the family, the investigation may eventually answer some questions about Hayden’s final hours, but it cannot lessen the magnitude of a loss that has once again left them confronting profound heartbreak.