Official Cause of Former Actress Daveigh Chase’s Death Revealed as AIDS

Daveigh Chase, the actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch," died at age 35, with the official cause of death confirmed as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office released the findings on Monday, about two weeks after her passing. The report also noted prolonged substance abuse as a significant contributing factor, classifying the death as natural. Chase died in a hospital, and her body was not brought to the medical examiner's office.

This official cause contrasts with earlier statements from her family and partner. Her father, John Schwallier, told NBC News that she died from complications of meningitis and sepsis, adding she suffered from severe malnutrition. Her partner, Roy Hernandez, who first confirmed her death to TMZ on June 17, also cited meningitis and sepsis as causes. Hernandez had launched a GoFundMe campaign during Chase’s life describing her critical health condition, which later sparked controversy.

John Ryan, Chase’s former manager, publicly questioned the legitimacy of the fundraising campaign, stating that Chase’s estate had sufficient funds to cover funeral expenses and medical bills through a Screen Actors Guild trust account. Ryan urged supporters to withhold donations until the campaign organizer’s identity was verified and accused Hernandez of withholding information from the family while controlling the narrative. Hernandez denied these claims, calling them "100 percent" false and said the campaign was intended to fund Chase’s memorial.

Chase rose to fame as a child, voicing Lilo Pelekai in the Oscar-winning Disney film "Lilo & Stitch" and its subsequent TV series, video games, and related projects. She also voiced the lead in the American version of the Japanese animated film "Spirited Away." Her acting credits include playing Samara Morgan, the antagonist in the horror film "The Ring" (2002), Donnie’s sister in the cult film "Donnie Darko," and Ronda Volmer in HBO’s "Big Love." Her last screen appearance was in 2016.