The 36-year-old actress died in South Carolina, with her official cause of death pending further investigation.
Lesley Vogel, the mother of Hayden Panettiere, has spoken publicly following the death of her daughter at age 36. Panettiere, an actress known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, and Ice Princess, died on Aug. 16 after being found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. First responders attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Greenville City Police Department is leading the investigation into her death with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, while the coroner’s office stated that her official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional studies.
Describing her initial reaction to the news, Vogel stated she felt “numb” and expressed difficulty processing the loss. Vogel discussed her complex relationship and recent estrangement with Panettiere, as well as the family’s prior loss of Panettiere’s brother, Jansen, who died in 2023 from an enlarged heart. Vogel requested space to mourn, stating she wants her daughter to be remembered as a talented, outgoing, and intelligent woman who was privately struggling despite her public success.
