Roy Hernandez, the boyfriend of late actress Daveigh Chase, has broken his silence following her death from AIDS and chronic drug use, disputing claims made by Chase's family and former manager. Chase, best known for her role in the 2002 film "The Ring," died on June 16 at the age of 35.
Hernandez, 38, addressed accusations that he profited from Chase's death and contributed to her drug use. He stated that he and Chase planned to marry and that he proposed to her in 2024, to which she accepted. He also revealed that he had a tattoo of her name, "Daveigh," inked above his eye in February 2026.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Hernandez described their relationship, which began in 2021. He claims they lived together in his RV for five years by choice and led a nomadic life, enjoying road trips with their dogs. He disputed the family's assertion that Chase was homeless and living on Skid Row, stating, "She was always happy. She made me really happy."
Chase's family and former manager, John Ryan, have questioned Hernandez's role, particularly a GoFundMe page he set up shortly before her death, suggesting a SAG trust account could have covered medical expenses. They also accused him of exacerbating her drug addiction. However, Hernandez denied using drugs with Chase or witnessing her use during their relationship. He acknowledged that Chase used drugs, including fentanyl, before they met, which she said she used to cope with past trauma, including an alleged 2021 kidnapping and sexual assault incident that she never reported.
Chase's father, John Schwallier, and mother, Cathy Chase, expressed disbelief at Hernandez's account, citing a 2025 video where Daveigh appeared severely emaciated, weighing around 80 pounds. "[Roy] had to have known how sick Daveigh was because in that video, she looked to be only 80 pounds," Schwallier told the Daily Mail.
According to her mother, Chase's struggles began around 2016 after a motorcycle accident resulted in a back injury and a prescription for painkillers, which reportedly led to an addiction that progressed to stronger substances. From 2018 to 2024, Chase had multiple arrests and periods of incarceration for drug possession and other charges. Her mother described her daughter as unrecognizable during a jail visit in 2019.
Hernandez suggested that Chase's difficult childhood, estrangement from her father, and the pressures of growing up in Hollywood also contributed to her decline. He claimed Chase rarely spoke of her father and believed he was dead because her mother had told her so. He also alleged that Chase's mother suggested she give her money to her younger brother while she was incarcerated, a suggestion Hernandez advised Chase to ignore.
The legal battle over Chase's estate, estimated to be around $400,000 from uncollected residuals and other assets, is underway. Chase's parents and their attorneys are pursuing competing petitions for control of the estate. John Ryan, Chase's former manager, is also seeking money he claims he is owed.
Hernandez stated that Chase wanted her estate to go to him or animal charities, as she believed neither parent deserved it. He claims Chase feared her mother would take any money she collected from residuals, which is why she was hesitant to claim it. "I told her I would go help her [get the checks], but she would say her mom would 'go crazy,'" Hernandez recounted.
Hernandez faces scrutiny regarding his own legal history, including a no-contest plea to a firearms possession charge in 2024, for which he was sentenced to three days in jail in March 2026. He declined to comment on his criminal past when asked.
Hernandez described Chase's final days in the hospital as difficult, with her struggling to communicate due to sores in her mouth. He stated that they discussed setting up the GoFundMe to help her after discharge, but he claims he has not received any of the approximately $4,500 raised. Chase died the morning after doctors informed Hernandez she had only hours to live.
The LA County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Chase died from AIDS with chronic drug use as a contributing factor. Her full autopsy report, including toxicology results, is pending, and the timeline of her HIV diagnosis and progression to AIDS remains unclear. Hernandez stated he is "OK" when asked about his own health.