News of Daveigh Chase‘s death was widely reported online on June 17, and one of those who read the tragic headlines was her mother, Cathy. Soon after, articles about the circumstances of Daveigh’s death circulated, offering a glimpse of what Daveigh’s life had been like a few years before her passing.
Cathy is speaking out about Daveigh’s addiction struggles, the loss of her daughter, and her desperate search to find her before learning about the devastating news.
Daveigh Chase’s Mother Didn’t Stop Looking For Her
Daveigh Chase died on June 16, as confirmed to TMZ by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez. The report was published a day later.
The following day, Daveigh’s mother, Cathy Chase, saw the reports, as she said in an interview with The Daily Mail. According to Cathy, she hadn’t seen her daughter since 2019 and had been desperately searching for her ever since.
The night before Daveigh’s death was reported online, Cathy was scouring websites and looking for information that would help her locate her daughter. Checking news sites, Reddit, and even the LA County Medical Examiner’s system has been a routine for her. “I would look at their list of unidentified bodies. It was very difficult, but you do everything you can as a mother,” she told the outlet.
Cathy Thought It Was Fake News
Initially, Cathy thought the headline she read was fake, but as she looked for more information, she found reputable sites reporting her daughter’s death and realized that they were true.
“I was devastated. It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly,” the grieving mother said, adding that she ran to her backyard and let out a “guttural scream.”
“I am in so much pain but I hope her soul heard me,” Cathy said.
Per the TMZ report, 35-year-old Daveigh was brought to the hospital in early June and was admitted for malnourishment. She passed away from meningitis and a blood infection, which led to septic issues and multiple-organ failure.
Cathy Identified Her Daughter’s Remains
On June 18, Cathy headed to the hospital to identify her daughter’s remains. Together with a chaplain, she prayed for Daveigh.
“Technically, we were touching the glass, but it’s as close as we could get, so we were able to lay hands and pray for her. It was a beautiful experience, and I feel very blessed to have been able to share that with my daughter,” Cathy shared.
It was the first time Cathy had seen her daughter in several years. In 2019, Daveigh was charged with two counts of burglary, and her mother visited her in jail. Cathy wanted to bring her home after her release, and they agreed that she would pick her up. On the day she was supposed to get her, however, she had already left. “She went back to the streets, and I couldn’t find her,” Cathy said.
Recalling the last time she saw Daveigh, Cathy said her daughter was “completely gone.” “My daughter was never diagnosed with mental health other than PTSD. But the drugs took hold of her,” she added.
An Injury May Have Led To Daveigh Chase’s Addiction
Daveigh began acting at a young age and appeared in shows, including “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “E.R.,” and “Charmed.”
In 2001, she portrayed the character Samantha Darko in “Donnie Darko,” starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. She also voiced Lilo in the 2002 animated film “Lilo & Stitch,” and Chihiro Ogino in the English-language dub of the Japanese animated film “Spirited Away.” She was most known for her portrayal of Samara Morgan in the horror film “The Ring.”
Cathy said Daveigh’s life began to spiral after her back injury from a motorcycle accident in 2016. The actress was prescribed strong painkillers, which Cathy believes was the catalyst for Daveigh’s drug addiction. Furthermore, she said her daughter hung out with the “wrong people.”
“I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her hooked on some drugs. That was the beginning,” Cathy said.
Daveigh Chase’s Former Manager And Friend Speaks Out
Producer John Ryan Jr. was Daveigh’s former manager and close friend. Ryan said he last saw the actress in person in 2015 and found out she went missing after skipping a meeting with director Rob Reiner.
Ryan said Daveigh was an introvert who wasn’t into the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, noting that it was typical for her to go away for months. Still, they attempted to find her, to no avail. Later, however, he began “hearing some bad stuff.”
Several months before Daveigh’s death, Ryan received footage of the actress in Skid Row. When he went there, however, Daveigh was gone. “We’ve been looking for her ever since. We’ve had private eyes on it,” he added.
Following Daveigh’s death, Hernandez set up a GoFundMe. Ryan is skeptical about the fundraiser, sharing that the actress had a SAG trust account and had millions in unclaimed residual checks.
“She was the sweetest girl on the planet. The greatest celebrity I ever had the chance to work with. She was just so kind,” Ryan said, remembering Daveigh.