Lesley Vogel, the mother of Hayden Panettiere, has alleged that Brian Hickerson, her daughter’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, pawned some of Hayden’s belongings before her passing. Vogel, who had a tumultuous relationship with Panettiere and was estranged from her prior to her tragic death at 36, recounted visiting her daughter last year in Los Angeles, where she found Hayden in distress and dealing with significant physical pain, in an interview with the New York Times.
During her visit, Vogel expressed her shock upon discovering that Hickerson, who filed for bankruptcy in 2022, had sold some of Panettiere’s items, including a vintage guitar. She noted that Hayden was similarly taken aback when she learned her possessions were in Hickerson’s storage unit.
A source confirmed that Hickerson did indeed pawn some of her belongings. Page Six reached out for comments from Hickerson’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, who deferred further commentary beyond a previous statement. He remarked that the investigation into Hayden’s death is ongoing, underscoring the need to respect that process. He added that police had indicated there were no signs of foul play.
In her claims, Vogel has also questioned Hickerson’s account of the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death, which occurred Sunday at their Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, and is believed to be from an overdose. While Hickerson has not publicly spoken about her death except through his attorney, his brother Zach, who was present when Hayden was found, stated that Brian administered Narcan and performed CPR when he discovered her unconscious. TMZ previously noted that Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was located at the scene.
Zach commented on the plethora of speculation currently surrounding the incident, noting the numerous assumptions that have arisen.
Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship, which began in 2018, was marked by turmoil; he faced multiple arrests for domestic violence against her, and she openly discussed this abuse in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” A neighbor of Panettiere reported witnessing her being taken from her apartment on a gurney on two separate occasions during her relationship with Hickerson.
Mia Terrazas, who still resides in the same West Hollywood complex, recounted incidents occurring on July 29, 2023, and January 16, 2024. She described seeing visible injuries, like bright red marks and bruises on Panettiere, suggesting she had been harmed, and noted that Hickerson was always closely present during these times.
Hayden Panettiere passed away last Sunday, with the cause being reported as an apparent overdose. She was just 36 years old at the time of her death.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
