Hayden Panettiere’s parents are locked in a dispute over the earrings their daughter was wearing when she died.
Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere cannot agree on where the jewelry should be sent, according to a Greenville County coroner’s report obtained by outlets. The “Heroes” actress, 36, was found dead on Aug. 16 in a Greenville, South Carolina, Airbnb after Zach Hickerson, brother of her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, discovered her unresponsive.
The report states that Panettiere was wearing “stud type earrings” at the time of her death. These were removed from her body during the autopsy examination and logged into the property and evidence section of the report. “The property was placed in the Senior Deputy’s locker for safe keeping on this same date,” the document noted.
One parent requested the earrings be mailed to an address in North Carolina, while the other wanted them sent to California. “Both parties were informed that until they could reach an agreement regarding the decedent’s personal effects that they would not be released,” the coroner’s report stated.
The same report also informed both parents that Hayden’s body was ready to be released to a mortuary or funeral home of their choosing. A senior deputy had contacted both parties earlier to notify them that the autopsy had been completed and that results were pending at that time.
Per the coroner’s findings, Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. The combination of substances proved fatal for the actress, who had been open about her past struggles with addiction.
This past weekend, a memorial service for Panettiere was held in Malibu, California, drawing several of her famous friends and colleagues. Attendees included her “Nashville” co-star Connie Britton, Evan Ross, Paris Hilton and Ruby Rose. The gathering came roughly one month after her sudden death.
Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, was not invited to the memorial. Sources indicated that the decision stemmed from the tumultuous nature of his relationship with the actress. Hickerson’s brother Zach had been the one to find Panettiere unresponsive in the Airbnb where she was staying.
The coroner documented that both parents were informed of the personal property removed from their daughter during autopsy. The earrings remain in official custody as the family disagreement continues, with no resolution yet reached on which parent will receive them.
Panettiere first rose to fame as a child actress, appearing in films like “Remember the Titans” before landing her breakout television role as the cheerleader with regenerative powers on NBC’s “Heroes.” She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on ABC’s “Nashville,” earning critical acclaim for her performance and her musical contributions to the series.
Her death at 36 shocked fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry, prompting tributes from those who had worked with her throughout her career. The ongoing dispute over her earrings adds a painful dimension to an already tragic loss for the family.