Hayden Panettiere's mother attributes daughter's death to a 'toxic' individual in new statement

Lesley Vogel, 70, issued a fresh statement to Entertainment Tonight about her daughter Hayden Panettiere's death, saying the estrangement between them was not due to a lack of love but to the influence of a "toxic individual" she believes contributed to the actress's demise. Vogel did not name the person directly, though she previously singled out Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, who was present at the scene in South Carolina when the 36-year-old was found dead from an apparent overdose.

"Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful," Vogel said.

She added that the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation, suggesting that unanswered questions remain about the circumstances of the death. Hickerson’s attorney responded that police have found no signs of foul play and asked that the investigation proceed without further comment.

Police reports indicate that Zach Hickerson, Brian Hickerson’s brother, discovered Panettiere’s body while Brian slept nearby. The investigation remains open, and the exact cause of death has not been officially confirmed.