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Hayden Panettiere's mother Lesley Vogel believes a 'toxic individual' contributed to her estrangement with her daughter and ultimately led to her death.

In a new statement addressing Panettiere's tragic death, Vogel, 70, told Entertainment Tonight her daughter became involved with the 'wrong person' – and that the family made an unsuccessful attempt at removing him from her life.

Vogel didn't name the person but she recently blasted Panettiere's on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, saying they had been 'trying to get rid of' him 'for quite some time.'

Panettiere, who died on Sunday at age 36 following a suspected overdose, endured a strained relationship with her mother, and Vogel addressed their estrangement in her newest statement.

'Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death,' she told ET.

'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.

Hayden Panettiere's mother Lesley Vogel believes a 'toxic individual' contributed to their estrangement and ultimately led to her daughter's death

'I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth.

'My heart is with you, Hayden. Mama.'

Panettiere and Hickerson had an on-off relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was marred by domestic violence incidents and arrests – with Hickerson serving jail time for abusing her. In recent months they had been seen spending time together once again.

Lesley also said a narcotics investigator has become involved in the investigation into Hayden's passing.

'It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened, and I think we are all looking for answers,' she told Entertainment Tonight.

Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment and was later declared dead.

Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were both at the scene when Panettiere was pronounced dead.

According to TMZ, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has joined the investigation into Panettiere's death.

Greenville Police and the coroner's office are running parallel investigations into the star's death, TMZ reported on Wednesday.

Panettiere, who died just days before turning 37 on Sunday following a suspected overdose, endured a strained relationship with her mother and Vogel addressed their estrangement in her newest statement; Panettiere with her mother in 2007

'I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth,' Vogel said

The DEA's reported involvement aligns with paramedics reporting a suspected overdose over dispatch calls. First responders located Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, inside the apartment where Panettiere was found dead.

It is still unconfirmed whether narcotics contributed to Panettiere's death, as the coroner awaits toxicology results.

Vogel's latest remarks come after she slammed Hickerson in her first public remarks since Panettiere's passing.

'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,' she told NBC News.

'There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.'

Hickerson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis from Ellis Hinton law firm, has since addressed Panettiere's death.

'Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,' said Ellis.

'As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.

'Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.'

Vogel didn't name the person, but she recently blasted Panettiere's on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson - similarly saying they had been attempting to end the relationship between the two 'for quite some time'

Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar's 1998 film A Bug's Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere's film credits include 2006's Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

She had an 11-year-old daughter called Kaya following a life-threatening birth, but later gave full custody to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

The former child star made a name for herself with roles in Remember The Titans, Nashville, and more

Panettiere's passing was announced Sunday by her father Skip Panettiere, who said in a statement: 'It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

'She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her - and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.'

Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, subsequently said that officials responded to an apartment in the area after receiving a report of an 'unresponsive female' via a possible 'drug overdose,' subsequently determined to be Panettiere.

Officials, who attempted lifesaving measures prior to declaring the actress deceased, said that no signs of trauma or foul play were evident in their probe into the Panettiere's death, which remains ongoing.