Daveigh Chase's Mom Recalls 2016 Incident That Triggered Her Fatal Spiral, 'She Was Completely Gone'

Daveigh Chase was one of the beloved faces of Hollywood during the early 2000s and mid-2010s, often winning hearts with memorable performances in films like The Ring and Lilo and Stitch (as the voice artist for 'Lilo'). After being a successful and recurring face on both television and the silver screen, the former child artist completely disappeared from the public eye after 2016. 

Her name once again returned to the spotlight earlier this week, with the devastating news of Daveigh's passing at age 35. In an emotional interview, her mother opened up about the heartbreaking journey that led to her daughter's final years and the moment she believes changed everything.

Cathy Chase opens up about the moment she learned about her daughter's death

For years, Daveigh's mother, Cathy Chase, lived with a painful routine. Ever since her daughter left her house, she used to spend hours searching the internet for updates about her. She kept scrolling through news reports, forums, and social media posts, hoping to find any sign of her daughter. She even checked the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's database to "look at their list of unidentified bodies," fearing the day Daveigh's name might appear.

In what she describes as a living nightmare, Cathy had her worst fears realized when reports of Daveigh's death surfaced earlier this week. On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Ring star's life came to a devastating end from severe complications from malnutrition, bacterial meningitis, and a blood infection that eventually led to sepsis and caused multiple organ failure. 

While Daveigh's mother wanted to believe her 'sunshine' was alive, the reality set in the next day as more outlets confirmed the story. The following morning, Cathy went to the hospital to identify her daughter's remains. Sharing the heartbreaking moment she learned about her daughter's death, Cathy told the Daily Mail:

"I was devastated. It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me... I let out this guttural scream and I just was running. And these weird sounds were coming out of me... primeval sounds... And 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."

The accident that changed everything

According to Cathy, the turning point in Daveigh Chase's otherwise booming life came nearly a decade ago. The devastated mother believes her daughter's struggles began after a motorcycle accident around 2016 that left her with a serious back injury. During recovery, the actress was prescribed powerful pain medications, including oxycodone.

However, what started as treatment soon spiraled into something far more devastating. Cathy recalled helplessly seeing her daughter spiral out of control as she started seeking medications and soon got into touch with the wrong crowd. She shared:

"She was seeking drugs and was partying with the wrong people. I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her hooked on some drugs. That was the beginning."

Cathy had not seen her daughter since 2019

Over time, Daveigh's addiction deepened, leading to multiple arrests, legal troubles, and eventually, homelessness. The last time Cathy saw her daughter in person was during a jail visit in 2019 after Daveigh faced burglary charges. The encounter remains one of the most painful memories of her life. Recalling her daughter's heartbreaking condition, Cathy explained:

"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."

While Daveigh had previously dealt with PTSD, her mother believes substance abuse dramatically altered her personality and behavior. After her release from prison, Daveigh never returned home. While Cathy had originally planned to pick her up from jail, by the time she arrived, her daughter had already left and disappeared back onto the streets.

Cathy Chase searched for her daughter all over Los Angeles

Even though the daughter she once knew was long gone, Cathy refused to give up. She and her younger brother spent the following years relentlessly searching for the actress throughout Los Angeles, driving through Hollywood, Koreatown, and Skid Row, and following every possible lead.

While people at times claimed to have seen Daveigh, others suggested she may have been trafficked. However, these claims remain speculative and were never verified. A Devastated Cathy told the Daily Mail that all these years, she kept "hoping she (Daveigh) would still come home." But she never returned.

Daveigh Chase's Hollywood journey from a child star to becoming a favourite

Daveigh Chase gained recognition over the years for giving her voice to certain characters on shows such as Fillmore!, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Spirited Away, and Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures. Daveigh was even cast as the main villain, 'Samara Morgan,' in Gore Verbinski's horror film, The Ring. She has also portrayed 'Rhonda Volmer' in Big Love and has been featured on other shows, including Charmed, The Practice, ER, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and more.

Cathy says her daughter always had a strong Christian faith growing up, but her erratic lifestyle may have changed that in her final years. RIP, Daveigh!

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Images: Cathy Chase/Instagram, Socials, WireImage

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