.jpeg "Daveigh Chase Dies at 35 After Battle With Meningitis and Sepsis")
According to reports, Chase died on June 16, 2026, at a hospital in Los Angeles after suffering from meningitis and serious bloodstream infections that led to sepsis and septic shock. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed the news and described the difficult health struggles she faced in her final weeks.
A Beloved Child Star of the Early 2000s
Born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase became one of the most recognizable young performers of the early 2000s. Her talent allowed her to move effortlessly between animation, drama, and horror, creating some of the decade's most memorable characters.
Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney's animated hit Lilo & Stitch. The film became a worldwide success, and Chase continued voicing the character in sequels and the television series. Her performance earned her an Annie Award and made Lilo one of Disney's most beloved modern characters.
That same year, Chase stunned audiences with a completely different role: Samara Morgan, the ghostly antagonist in the horror film The Ring. Her chilling portrayal helped make the movie a box-office success and a cultural phenomenon. The performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003.
In addition to those iconic roles, Chase provided the English-language voice of Chihiro Ogino in Studio Ghibli's Academy Award-winning film Spirited Away. She also appeared in the cult classic Donnie Darko as Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal's title character.
As she grew older, Chase continued acting, most notably portraying Rhonda Volmer in HBO's acclaimed drama Big Love from 2006 to 2011.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Although born in Nevada, Chase was raised in Albany, Oregon, by her mother. She showed an interest in performing from an early age and began vocal and dance training when she was just three years old.
Before becoming a successful screen actress, Chase pursued music and gained attention as a talented young country singer. She reportedly performed at various events and even opened for country music star Reba McEntire.
Her television career began in the late 1990s with appearances on shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, paving the way for her later success in film and voice acting.
Health Struggles Before Her Death
According to Hernandez, Chase had recently been diagnosed with meningitis and multiple serious blood infections. He said her condition deteriorated rapidly despite medical treatment.
A GoFundMe page created before her death described the severe challenges she was facing and asked for support during her hospitalization. Hernandez wrote that Chase had endured a difficult childhood, personal hardships, and periods of instability throughout her adult life.
In the fundraiser, he described her as "a light in my life" and spoke of their hopes of building a safe and stable future together.
The fundraising page indicated that Chase had also been hospitalized earlier in the month because of malnutrition. By Wednesday evening, the campaign had raised approximately $1,300 toward its $5,500 goal.
Friends Searched for Her in Recent Months
Reports from TMZ indicated that several of Chase's friends had spent months trying to locate her after losing contact with her amid personal struggles.
Sources told the outlet that friends believed Chase had been living in or around Los Angeles' Skid Row area, which is known for its large homeless population. After receiving information about her possible whereabouts, they reportedly searched the area and other parts of downtown Los Angeles but were unable to reconnect with her.
Friends reportedly became increasingly concerned about her health and well-being during this period. Following news of her death, many expressed sadness that they had not been able to reach her before it was too late.
Understanding Sepsis
Medical experts describe sepsis as a life-threatening emergency caused by the body's overwhelming response to an infection.
Rather than being an infection itself, sepsis occurs when the immune system reacts so aggressively to an infection that it begins damaging the body's own tissues and organs.
The condition can develop from bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections. In Chase's case, meningitis and bloodstream infections reportedly triggered the chain reaction that led to septic shock.
How Sepsis Develops
The process generally follows several stages:
• Infection – An illness develops somewhere in the body.
• Immune System Overreaction – The body releases large amounts of inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream.
• Widespread Inflammation – Blood vessels become damaged and blood flow is disrupted.
• Organ Dysfunction – Vital organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart begin to fail.
• Septic Shock – Blood pressure drops dangerously low, creating a medical emergency with a high risk of death.
Warning Signs
Symptoms can include:
• Confusion or slurred speech
• High fever or severe shivering
• Extreme muscle pain
• Severe shortness of breath
• Little or no urine output
• Pale, mottled, or discolored skin
• A feeling of extreme illness or impending doom
Sepsis requires immediate medical attention and is typically treated with intravenous antibiotics, fluids, oxygen, and intensive monitoring.
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