The remains of Daveigh Chase, known for her roles as Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" and Samara Morgan in "The Ring," have been entrusted to her mother, Cathy Chase, according to her death certificate. Chase died on June 16 from AIDS, with chronic polysubstance abuse listed as an underlying condition.
Chase was cremated, and her ashes were given to her mother, with her final resting place noted as her mother's home in Chatsworth, California. Her occupation was listed as "actress/vocal artist," though she had not worked in Hollywood for many years and had been struggling with addiction, reportedly living in an RV near Skid Row at the time of her death.
A video obtained by The California Post, reportedly taken months before her death, depicted Chase on the floor of a tent in Los Angeles' Skid Row, appearing malnourished. An outreach advocate reportedly witnessed her health decline over time.
Chase's manager, John Ryan, stated that he and her stepsister, Gaia Brown, had attempted to help her, enlisting a private investigator in 2025 to locate her. Although they were able to speak with Chase by phone, she reportedly disappeared again before they could provide assistance. Ryan described Chase as "the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood."
Despite her struggles, Chase's mother, Cathy Chase, indicated in court documents that the late actress left behind approximately $400,000 in personal property. Cathy Chase is petitioning the court to be appointed administrator of her daughter's estate. Chase, who was never married and had no children, was the subject of a GoFundMe campaign created by an individual identified as her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, aiming to support her in her final days.
However, Chase's former manager, John Ryan, later advised the public against donating to Hernandez's GoFundMe. Chase remained active in acting until 2016, marking the beginning of her documented descent into drug addiction.