Daveigh Chase’s June 16 tragic death has reopened old family wounds, with the actress’ parents now at odds over what should happen next. 

While the medical examiner confirmed the former child star died from complications related to AIDS and chronic polysubstance use, the aftermath has become just as heartbreaking. 

As her father reacts to the official findings and vows to fight for her ashes, her mother is sharing painful memories of the years she spent desperately searching for the daughter she never stopped calling her “Sunshine.”

Daveigh Chase’s Father Breaks Silence After Learning Her Cause Of Death

Daveigh Chase’s father, John Schwallier, admitted he was left speechless when he learned the official cause of his daughter’s death. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he revealed, “I’m not surprised,” after being informed that the actress died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and complications related to chronic polysubstance use.

Schwallier also recalled the devastating moment he identified her body, saying he initially struggled to believe it was really his daughter because of how much weight she had lost.

“I was beside myself at first when I finally saw her,” he said, adding, “I thought they were hustling me at first.”

He described Daveigh as weighing roughly 65 pounds and said she appeared even thinner than videos that had recently circulated online. “I touched her thigh above her knee, and it was just bone,” Schwallier shared.

The grieving father also revealed that he received a call on June 16 from a man identifying himself as Daveigh’s boyfriend, who told him she was drifting in and out of consciousness. 

Speaking to his daughter through a speakerphone before rushing to Los Angeles, he remembered telling her, “I love you and that I’ve been looking for you,” while promising he had a safe place waiting for her if she recovered.

Daveigh’s Father Vows To Fight Over Her Ashes

Following Daveigh Chase’s cremation, Schwallier revealed he intends to seek control of at least part of his daughter’s ashes, saying he is prepared to take the matter to court if necessary.

“I will fight her for Daveigh’s remains in Probate Court,” he declared, referring to his ex-wife, Cathy Chase.

Although Schwallier insisted, “It’s not about the money,” he admitted he wanted his daughter’s remains because “she belongs with me.” 

He added that Cathy could keep half of the ashes if she wished, but maintained that he deserved to have part of them. Schwallier also reflected on years spent trying to reconnect with Daveigh, claiming he searched for her for more than a decade after losing contact.

“I have been looking for my daughter for 13 years. Where was the media then? It’s tragic,” he said, adding that he had recently begun speaking with her friends in an effort to learn more about the woman she became.

Throughout the interview, Schwallier suggested that the family’s separation played a role in the distance between him and his daughter.

Daveigh Chase’s Mother Recalls Years Of Searching Before Her Daughter’s Death

While Schwallier is focused on preserving his daughter’s memory, Cathy has shared the heartbreaking reality of spending years searching for Daveigh before learning she had died.

She previously told the Daily Mail she routinely searched Google and Reddit each night, hoping to find any clue about her daughter’s whereabouts.

When reports of Daveigh’s death surfaced, she initially believed they were fake before realizing multiple legitimate outlets were reporting the tragedy.

“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,” Cathy said.

She described running into her backyard screaming “No, no, no, no!” after reading the news. Cathy later visited the hospital, where she and a chaplain prayed over Daveigh’s body.

“It was a beautiful experience, and I feel very blessed, too, to have been able to share that with my daughter,” she recalled. She also said she never stopped trying to find Daveigh, regularly searching homeless encampments throughout Los Angeles after losing contact with her.

Daveigh’s Mother Believes Addiction Changed Everything

Cathy believes the turning point in Daveigh Chase’s life came after a motorcycle accident around 2016, when her daughter suffered a back injury and was prescribed pain medication.

According to her, those prescriptions eventually escalated into more serious drug use, changing the course of Daveigh’s life.

“She was seeking drugs and was partying with the wrong people. I never kicked my daughter out,” Cathy said, adding that she believes the addiction ultimately took hold.

Cathy also recalled visiting the “Lilo & Stitch” star while she was incarcerated and being shocked by how much she had changed.

“She was completely gone, like, out of her mind,” she noted, explaining that she believed drugs had dramatically altered her daughter’s behavior.

Despite years of setbacks, Cathy insisted she never abandoned hope that Daveigh would return home. “As a mother, you don’t give up on your child. I was hoping she would still come home,” she shared.

Daveigh Chase’s Hollywood Rise Made Her One Of The Biggest Child Stars Of Her Generation

Long before her struggles, Daveigh built an impressive résumé as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable child actors.

She first gained widespread attention by voicing Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” earning a Young Artist Award for her performance before reprising the role in multiple sequels and the television series.

The 35-year-old later terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in “The Ring,” a performance that earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

Daveigh also appeared in “AI Artificial Intelligence,” “Donnie Darko,” and HBO’s “Big Love,” where she portrayed Rhonda Volmer across 32 episodes.

Her acting career gradually slowed after 2012, but her performances remain memorable to fans who watched her rise from one of Disney’s brightest young voices to one of horror’s most unforgettable child stars.