Daveigh Chase reportedly seen malnourished on Skid Row in harrowing photo months before death

Daveigh Chase's manager, John Ryan, said loved ones hired a private investigator and planned treatment as they searched for her
photo that allegedly showed Daveigh Chase in a distressed condition circulated online months before her death, prompting concern among fans and loved ones (Polk Imaging/FilmMagic)
photo that allegedly showed Daveigh Chase in a distressed condition circulated online months before her death, prompting concern among fans and loved ones (Polk Imaging/FilmMagic)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Daveigh Chase, best known for her role in 'Lilo & Stitch', was reportedly seen in a severely distressed and malnourished state in the months leading up to her death.

Screenshots from a now-deleted video circulating on X allegedly showed the actress in a visibly weakened condition on Skid Row. According to her manager, friends and loved ones had spent months trying to locate and help her after learning about her reported circumstances. 

Daveigh Chase attends HBO's
Daveigh Chase attended HBO's 'Big Love' Season 5 Party at the Directors Guild of America on January 12, 2011, in Los Angeles, California (Craig Barritt/WireImage)

Daveigh Chase reportedly seen malnourished on Skid Row months before death

Chase’s manager, John Ryan, who worked with her for more than a decade, told The California Post that he and her stepsister, Gaia Brown, had made efforts to locate and help her. He said they even brought in a private investigator around a year earlier to track her down.

Ryan said that toward the end of 2025, he saw a video that allegedly showed Chase very thin and in poor condition. The video, later removed from social media, reportedly showed her barely conscious on the ground inside what looked like a tent.



He said he was able to speak to Chase by phone shortly after seeing the video and immediately tried to arrange treatment. However, by the time he reached the area, she had already “disappeared.”

Ryan and her stepsister had also been planning to admit her to a rehabilitation facility in Costa Rica owned by a friend, hoping she could recover after being stabilized in Los Angeles.

“We were so close to finding her,” Ryan said. “Daveigh was the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood. I can’t believe this is real. Her legacy and work will live on forever.”

He also said he was developing a documentary titled 'Finding Lilo', which would document the search for the actress, and revealed that major studios had shown interest in the project.

Questions emerge over GoFundMe and Daveigh Chase's reported royalties

Actress Daveigh Chase attends the NYLON Magazine Music Issue Launch Party at The Roxy Theatre on May 30, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
Daveigh Chase attended the NYLON Magazine Music Issue Launch Party at The Roxy Theatre on May 30, 2012, in West Hollywood, California (Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

Several questions have surfaced following the actor’s death, particularly around a fundraising campaign and her reported financial situation.

Roy Hernandez paid tribute to his girlfriend in the GoFundMe, writing, “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA."

"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."

However, Chase’s manager has claimed that she had “millions of dollars” in unclaimed royalties she never withdrew, suggesting she may not have been in financial distress.

This has raised questions about why the GoFundMe campaign was launched.

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