Daveigh Chase's mom opens up after 'Lilo & Stitch' star's tragic death: 'I am in so much pain'

Former child star Daveigh Chase's mom is speaking publicly for the first time following her daughter's death
Daveigh Chase arrives to the 6th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Axel Koester/Corbis via Getty Images)
Daveigh Chase arrives to the 6th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Axel Koester/Corbis via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Daveigh Chase’s untimely death has left fans and loved ones both shocked and heartbroken. The 'Lilo & Stitch' actress died at the age of 35, cutting short a life that once drew early fame and attention. Her mother, Cathy Chase, has now finally broken her silence on the tragedy.

In an emotional and raw interview, she opened up about the depth of her grief and how the loss has left the family feeling fragile and vulnerable. Reflecting on her pain, she said, “I was devastated.”

Daveigh Chase arrives to the launch of Afro Samurai, the new video game developed by SURGE, at Geisha House in Hollywood on January 27, 2009 (Polk Imaging/FilmMagic)
Daveigh Chase arrives to the launch of Afro Samurai, the new video game developed by SURGE, at Geisha House in Hollywood on January 27, 2009 (Polk Imaging/FilmMagic)

Daveigh Chase’s mother describes shock of her daughter’s untimely death

Speaking with The Daily Mail, Cathy described the moment she learned the news as physically overwhelming. “It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly,” she said. 

She added that she was left in complete disbelief after hearing of her daughter’s passing. Recalling her immediate reaction, she shared, “I let out this guttural scream, and I just was running. And these weird sounds were coming out of me, these kind of, like, primeval sounds.” 

Daveigh Chase’s mother opens up about her raw and emotional reaction to her daughter’s death in an interview with The Daily Mail (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Daveigh Chase’s mother opens up about her raw and emotional reaction to her daughter’s death in an interview with The Daily Mail (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

She went on to describe running outside in distress, saying, “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.”

Cathy also opened up about the days leading up to the public announcement, revealing that she had been searching online in hopes of finding answers about her daughter’s whereabouts. “I would look at their list of unidentified bodies,” she said. “It was very difficult, but you do everything you can as a mother.”

Daveigh Chase dies after severe infection leads to meningitis

According to her boyfriend, she passed away after developing meningitis and a severe bloodstream infection that led to septic shock and multiple organ failure. He said her condition worsened rapidly in the final stages.

Chase had reportedly been hospitalized earlier in June due to severe malnutrition before her health declined further. Her former manager, John Ryan Jr. also shared that concerns had been growing about her wellbeing. He and her step-sister, Gaia Brown, hired a private investigator to locate her but that was not at all fruitful.

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

After a video of Chase surfaced online, Ryan said he searched for her in Skid Row in an effort to get her help, but she had already “disappeared.”

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