Home / Arts and Entertainment / Child Star's Mom Defends Mourning
Child Star's Mom Defends Mourning
24 Aug
Summary
- Mother Lesley Vogel defends her mourning process publicly.
- Hayden Panettiere died suddenly at age 36 in South Carolina.
- Investigation into Panettiere's death is ongoing, no foul play found.
Lesley Vogel, mother of the late Hayden Panettiere, has publicly addressed criticism regarding her mourning behavior following her daughter's unexpected death. Speaking on Good Morning America, Vogel asserted, "You don't have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child." She described feeling numb upon hearing the news of Hayden's passing.
Hayden Panettiere, star of Remember the Titans, was found deceased at 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. Her death occurred one year after her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, also died unexpectedly. The Greenville County Coroner's Office stated that resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Preliminary investigations by the Greenville Police Department have not indicated foul play, though dispatch audio mentioned "overdose" and "cardiac arrest."
An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, but the investigation remains active, with the DEA joining. Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present at the time of her death and provided officers with a bag of her medications. Vogel expressed her desire for Hayden to be remembered as a talented and intelligent woman.
