The official cause of death for former child star Daveigh Chase has been revealed, shedding new light on the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding her passing. The revelation comes nearly two weeks after news broke that the actress, best known for her roles in “Lilo & Stitch,” “The Ring,” and “Donnie Darko,” died on June 16 at the age of 35.

Daveigh Chase’s Official Cause Of Death Revealed After Former Child Star’s Tragic Death At 35

According to US Weekly, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated that Chase died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with chronic polysubstance use listed as a significant contributing condition. Her manner of death was ruled natural.

AIDS weakens the body’s immune system, making it difficult to fight off infections and illnesses that might otherwise be manageable.

The findings provide additional context following earlier reports about Chase’s declining health in the weeks leading up to her death.

Friends Reportedly Spent Years Trying To Find The Former Actress

Following Chase’s death, reports emerged suggesting that many of her longtime friends had spent years attempting to reconnect with her after she stepped away from public life. Some reportedly searched Los Angeles’ Skid Row after receiving tips that she may have been living in the area. It was also reported that Chase spent much of her final years living in an RV with Hernandez before being hospitalized earlier this month.

In the years leading up to Daveigh Chase’s death, her mother never stopped searching for answers. According to a previous report by The Blast, Cathy spent countless nights combing through online forums, news reports, and public records, hoping to find any sign that her daughter was safe.

The search often led her to some of the darkest places imaginable, including the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s website, where she routinely reviewed lists of unidentified individuals. “I would look at their list of unidentified bodies. It was very difficult, but you do everything you can as a mother,” Cathy said.

Daveigh Chase’s Boyfriend Previously Opened Up About Her Serious Health Struggles

Before her death, Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking financial assistance as her condition worsened. In the fundraiser, Hernandez described the actress as someone who had endured significant hardships throughout her life.

“Daveigh Chase, my girlfriend, has always been a light in my life,” he wrote. “Many people know her as a talented childhood actor from Lilo & Stitch, Spirited Away and Donnie Darko, but behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.”

He also revealed that Chase had recently been diagnosed with meningitis and was battling multiple serious infections. “Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left,” Hernandez wrote at the time.

Daveigh Chase’s Mother Previously Spoke About Her Struggles With Addiction

In the aftermath of her death, Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, spoke publicly about the difficulties her daughter faced in recent years. “I was devastated. It felt like something inside of me was squeezing all of the air out of me,” she said after learning of her daughter’s death.

According to her mother, Chase’s struggles with addiction began after a motorcycle accident around 2016, when she was prescribed pain medication. Cathy told The Daily Mail that what started as a treatment for physical injuries eventually developed into a much larger battle that would follow Chase for years.

Reflecting on that period, Cathy said she began noticing subtle changes in her daughter’s behavior and social circle in the months after the accident. At the time, the shifts seemed gradual, but she now believes they were early signs of the challenges that would come to define much of Chase’s later life.

“She was completely gone, like, out of her mind. I honestly thought there was something wrong with her,” Cathy recalled. “But the drugs took hold of her.

The addiction reportedly marked the beginning of a difficult period in her life, leading to years of personal challenges away from the spotlight. The medical examiner’s report listed chronic polysubstance use as a significant condition contributing to her death.

Daveigh Chase Was Best Known For Several Beloved Roles

Chase rose to fame as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable child actors in the early 2000s. She voiced Lilo in Disney’s animated hit “Lilo & Stitch,” appeared as Samara Morgan in the horror blockbuster “The Ring,” and starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the cult classic “Donnie Darko.”

Her performances earned praise from both audiences and critics, making her one of the most recognizable young stars of her generation.