The Greenville County coroner’s office confirmed that the 36‑year‑old actress was wearing stud‑type earrings at the time of her death and that the jewelry was taken from her body during the post‑mortem examination. The items were logged as evidence and placed in the senior deputy’s locker for safekeeping, the report said.
According to the same document, the two parents were each notified that the earrings were now in the deputy’s custody. Vogel, who resides in North Carolina, requested that the earrings be mailed to her, while Skip Panettiere, based in California, asked that they be sent to his address.
The coroner’s report further states that, until the parents reach an agreement on the disposition of the personal effects, the earrings will not be released to either party. The same notice informed the family that the actress’s body was ready to be transferred to a mortuary or funeral home of their choosing.
Panettiere died on Aug. 16 after being found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina Airbnb by her boyfriend’s brother, Zach Hickerson. The coroner’s findings list the cause of death as the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4‑ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.
A memorial service was held in Malibu, California, over the weekend, drawing a crowd that included co‑star Connie Britton, Evan Ross, Paris Hilton and Ruby Rose. The actress’s on‑again, off‑again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was not invited, reportedly because of the turbulent nature of their relationship.
The dispute over the earrings adds a personal‑property dimension to the family’s grieving process, highlighting how even seemingly minor items can become points of contention after a high‑profile death.