The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office has announced a cause of death for Daveigh Chase, who voiced Lilo in “Lilo & Stitch” and starred in “The Ring.” Chase died June 17 in Los Angeles at 35.
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Chase, who also went by Daveigh Schwallier, died of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS, according to the coroner’s office. A secondary cause was listed as “chronic polysubstance use.” Chase’s father, John David Schwallier, told the New York Times that she had been homeless and had struggled with drugs since the age of 13. He had not spoken with her in many years, he said.
Chase’s boyfriend Roy Hernandez initially told TMZ that she had contract meningitis as well as sepsis, a serious reaction to an infection. Prior to her death, Hernandez wrote in a GoFundMe post, “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown L.A. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
After Chase stopped acting around 2016, her legal troubles included being charged with riding in a stolen car and possession of a controlled substance.
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After Chase broke out with her voice role as Lilo, she went on to voice “Stitch! The Movie” (2003), “Leroy & Stitch” (2006) and Disney Channel’s “Lilo & Stitch: The Series.” In HBO’s “Big Love,” she played Rhonda Volmer, the teenager who was a child bride of fundamentalist prophet Roman Grant.
She played the creepy girl Samara Morgan in horror hit “The Ring” as well as Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s lead character in “Donnie Darko,” and appeared in the direct-to-video sequel, “S. Darko,” in 2009.
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