After Daveigh Chase’s death at 35, her mother Cathy Chase says she was devastated, learned the news through the media, and previously searched coroner records after years of worrying about her daughter’s health.
Daveigh Chase’s mom, Cathy Chase, is speaking out after the former child star died this week at 35, following an illness that began with meningitis and led to septic issues.
In an interview published Friday, June 19, Cathy described the moment the news hit her. “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. ” she said. “I let out this guttural scream and I just was running. and these weird sounds were coming out of me. like. primeval sounds. I went out into the backyard. and I was screaming. ‘No. no. no. no!’ I am in so much pain but I hope her soul heard me.”.
Cathy said the last time she saw Daveigh was in October 2019. She also said she found out about her daughter’s passing through the media, despite years of questioning Daveigh’s health and well-being.
“I would just put her name in the coroner’s [search system] and see if her name came up and if somebody had her somewhere,” she recalled. “I would look at their list of unidentified bodies. It was very difficult, but you do everything you can as a mother.”
Cathy further alleged that after a 2016 motorcycle accident left Daveigh injured, her struggles escalated into substance abuse. She claimed Daveigh was seeking drugs and “was partying with the wrong people,” adding, “I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her hooked on some drugs. That was the beginning.”.
“She was completely gone, like, out of her mind. 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.”
During the final period Cathy described, she said she and a hospital chaplain were able to pray with Daveigh. “[The hospital chaplain and I] were able to lay hands and pray,” Cathy shared. “Technically. we were touching the glass. but it’s as close as we could get. so we were able to lay hands and pray for her. It was a beautiful experience. and. and I feel very blessed. too. have been able to share that with my daughter.”.
Chase was best known for playing Samara Morgan in The Ring. She also lent her voice to Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and Chihiro in the English-language version of Spirited Away.
After the news of her death broke, a man who identified himself as her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe connected to the situation.
Daveigh Chase Cathy Chase The Ring meningitis septic issues Roy Hernandez GoFundMe Lilo & Stitch Spirited Away
Did they say it was meningitis then septic stuff? That’s so scary, I can’t even.
Not to be weird but the coroner records thing… like why was it that hard to get answers? Also substance abuse after the motorcycle accident?? Feels like everyone’s piecing it together from vibes.
Wait so her mom found out through the media? I hate that. And the praying part touched my heart, but also I’m confused—was she actually diagnosed with anything besides PTSD? People say meningitis but then septic issues and then drugs… it’s like too many stories at once.
This is why you can’t trust coroner websites. They always show stuff late or misfiled. If her name didn’t come up then what, she was alive somewhere? Idk, the whole thing just feels like the system failed her and her mom shoulda had better connections after that accident.