‘I was just numb’: Hayden Panettiere's mother breaks silence on daughter's death

Key Points:

• Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, expressed her hope that her daughter will be remembered as a talented, beautiful, outgoing, and intelligent woman following the actress's death at age 36 on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina.
• Panettiere, known for roles in "Heroes," "Nashville," and "Ice Princess," was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest; the official cause of death remains under investigation with assistance from the DEA.
• Vogel described a complicated and estranged relationship with her daughter in recent years, noting struggles with Panettiere’s toxic relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who had a history of domestic violence charges.
• Hayden Panettiere had been open about her personal challenges, including postpartum depression, addiction, and domestic abuse, detailed in her 2023 memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning."
• Vogel emphasized that despite Panettiere's outward success, she believed her daughter was suffering internally, highlighting the disconnect between public perception and private struggles.