Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has shared fresh details about the probe into the actress’ shocking death at age 36 following a suspected overdose.
As reports emerge that the DEA is involved in the investigation, the Heroes actress' mother confirmed to NBC News that a narcotics investigator has been brought onto the case, but said she does not know where the probe currently stands.
“It leads me to believe they have questions, which of course they all do, but they are instigating this,” she said.
Panettiere and Hickerson had an on-off relationship from 2018 to 2022 marked by domestic violence incidents, though they had been seen together again in recent months.
Her mother, Vogel, slammed Hickerson, 37, after a police report confirmed he was present when the actress was declared dead in Greenville on Sunday.
Vogel mentioned about Panettiere and Hickerson relationship, “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson.”
She added, “There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.”
Panettiere’s mother said the pair remained in a relationship at the time of her death, adding that she “always knew they were together.”
Vogel described Hayden as “amazingly talented,” but said growing up in entertainment can be challenging and that she “sadly lost her way,” despite her many “incredible attributes.”
Separate investigations by Greenville Police and the coroner’s office are underway following the actress’ death, according to TMZ.
The reported DEA involvement comes after paramedics flagged a suspected overdose in dispatch calls.
First responders also found Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, inside the apartment where Panettiere was discovered dead.
Notably, the update came after Vogel opened up about her estranged daughter's shock death.
