HAYDEN PANETTIERE’S MOTHER SAYS FAMILY TRIED TO REMOVE “WRONG PERSON” FROM HER LIFE BEFORE HER DEATH. (PHOTO)

 Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Says Family Tried to Remove “Wrong Person” From Her Life Before Her Death

Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has linked her daughter’s estrangement from the family to a “t0xic individual” and said the family had tried unsuccessfully to remove that person from the actress’ life.

“Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love,” Vogel told Entertainment Tonight.

She added: “Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.”

Vogel had previously identified that person as Hayden’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly with the 36-year-old actress when she was found dead in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday.

“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,” Vogel told NBC News.

Vogel also said the involvement of a narcotics investigator in the police investigation had left the family with questions about what happened.

“It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened,” she said. “And I think we are all looking for answers.”

Hickerson, 37, has since addressed the situation through his attorney, Sloan Ellis of Ellis Hinton law firm. His lawyer said the investigation should be allowed to continue and pointed to the police statement that there were no signs of foul play.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Ellis told The Sun. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”

Hayden and Hickerson had reportedly been spending more time together again, with TMZ reporting that they had resumed their relationship but were keeping it private because her team believed the relationship was “bad for business.”

Police also noted the different reactions of the people at the residence when Hayden was found. According to the report, Hickerson’s brother Zach was “very emotional,” while Brian reportedly did not shed a tear until Hayden was officially declared dead.

Vogel said she wants her daughter to be remembered beyond the circumstances surrounding her death, for “the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth.”