Daveigh Chase, the actress celebrated for her roles in 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'The Ring,' has died at the age of 35 due to complications from bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. Her mother, Cathy Chase, spoke publicly about the devastating loss and the events leading up to her daughter's death.
Mother Initially Thought News Was Fake
Cathy Chase revealed that she first saw headlines of her daughter's death and believed them to be false. “I actually thought it was fake news, that first time I saw it, and then, but then all of a sudden, it's all of these different legitimate sites had her name and I realised that it wasn't fake,” she said in an interview with the Daily Mail. She added that she last saw Daveigh in 2019.
Emotional Reaction to the Loss
After confirming the news through social media and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's website, Cathy described her reaction: “I was devastated. It felt like something inside of me was squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly.” She ran into her backyard, letting out a guttural scream and primal sounds, crying “No, no, no, no!” She expressed hope that her daughter's soul heard her pain.
Struggle with Addiction and Homelessness
Cathy disclosed that Daveigh developed an addiction to painkillers after a serious motorcycle accident in 2016, which triggered a downward spiral. “I honestly thought there was something wrong with her. My daughter was never diagnosed with mental health other than PTSD. But the drugs took hold of her,” Cathy said. Daveigh began seeking drugs and associating with the wrong people. By 2019, when Cathy visited her in jail on burglary charges, she was “completely gone.” Daveigh also faced homelessness, and her boyfriend noted on a GoFundMe page that she had serious blood conditions that became critical.
Mother's Unwavering Hope
Despite the challenges, Cathy never gave up on her daughter. “As a mother, you don't give up on your child. I was hoping she would still come home,” she said, emphasizing that she did not kick Daveigh out and desperately tried to help her, but acknowledged that help cannot be forced on someone unwilling.
Cathy Chase identified her daughter's remains on June 18, 2026.
