Friends and Family Desperately Sought ‘The Ring’ Star on LA’s Skid Row
In the months leading up to her passing at age 35, the manager and stepsister of actress Daveigh Chase, known for her roles in “The Ring” and “Lilo & Stitch,” were actively searching for her among the homeless population of Los Angeles. Manager John Ryan and stepsister Gaia Brown had been attempting to locate Chase for years after she had seemingly disappeared from public life.
Their extensive search eventually led them to the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles. Reports indicate that Chase’s death followed a period of hospitalization for malnutrition. Her partner confirmed her passing on Tuesday, revealing she had been battling a severe health crisis that included meningitis, a blood infection, and sepsis.
Years-Long Search for Missing Actress
Ryan, who managed Chase for over a decade, stated that he and Brown hired a private investigator in 2025 in an effort to find the actress and offer her much-needed assistance. Information surfaced suggesting Chase was living on Skid Row, a detail reportedly conveyed by the private investigator to Ryan and Brown.
According to Ryan, a social media video that has since been removed showed a drastically thin Chase residing on Skid Row. The former child star appeared weak and struggled to stay awake in what seemed to be a makeshift shelter. Sources close to Chase indicated that friends believed she weighed as little as 75 pounds during this period.
Failed Attempts to Provide Aid
Ryan managed to make phone contact with Chase and then traveled to Skid Row with the intention of helping her recover. A friend of Ryan’s owned a rehabilitation facility in Costa Rica, and the plan was to admit Chase once she was well enough to travel. However, these plans were thwarted when Chase reportedly “disappeared” before Ryan could reach her.
“We were so close to finding her,” Ryan told the California Post. Friends continued their search efforts on Skid Row for weeks without success.
Ryan also mentioned seeing a video depicting a severely underweight and barely conscious Chase inside a tent or trailer. He had hoped to nurse her back to health before arranging for her to enter a rehab facility. “Daveigh was the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood,” he added. “I can’t believe this is real. Her legacy and work will live on forever.”
Ryan revealed he has been working on a documentary about the efforts to find Chase, tentatively titled “Finding Lilo,” which has reportedly attracted interest from major studios.
Partner’s Account and GoFundMe Controversy
Roy Hernandez, who identified himself as Chase’s partner, stated that he had been seeking funds for her care through multiple GoFundMe campaigns in the weeks before her death. He described Chase’s battle with meningitis and blood infections, noting her condition had become critical.
However, Ryan expressed skepticism regarding Hernandez and his claims, particularly concerning a GoFundMe account. “Apparently, a man claiming to be her ‘boyfriend’ that none of us friends or her family has heard of has set up a GoFundMe on ‘her and her family’s behalf’ that he set her up as the organizer,” Ryan stated. He confirmed that Chase had a trust account established with SAG to cover all expenses.
The GoFundMe campaign had raised approximately $2,500 towards its $5,500 goal as of Wednesday evening.
Early Fame and Legal Troubles
Chase rose to prominence in 2002 with her portrayal of Samara Morgan in “The Ring.” She gradually withdrew from the public eye, with her last social media post in 2017. Over the subsequent years, she faced multiple arrests for offenses including joyriding in stolen vehicles and drug possession.
Her partner described a strained relationship with her family and her struggles with homelessness. In a concerning incident in 2017, she was questioned after dropping an unconscious man off at a hospital and leaving the scene; the man later died of a drug overdose.
Hernandez stated that he and Chase had been homeless in the years prior to her death. In one of his fundraising appeals, he wrote, “Daveigh Chase, my girlfriend, has always been a light in my life… But behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.” He detailed her difficult childhood, a falling out with her family, and her struggles to find safety in downtown Los Angeles, expressing his desire to protect and love her.
He further explained, “Recently, everything changed. Daveigh was diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections. Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left. All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy.”
Chase’s last public appearance was at a Vogue dinner in April 2013. She had several encounters with law enforcement. In November 2017, she was arrested in Los Angeles for being in a stolen vehicle. Prior to that, in February 2017, she was arrested after leaving a man, who later died of an overdose, outside a hospital.
Chase’s career included a beloved voice role as Lilo in the animated film “Lilo & Stitch” and its subsequent television series, as well as voicing Chihiro Ogino in “Spirited Away.” She also appeared in “Big Love,” “Donnie Darko,” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” among other projects.
