Daveigh Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, has broken her silence after The Ring child star’s shocking and tragic death at 35.
“I was devastated. 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,” Cathy, who last saw Daveigh in 2019, told Daily Mail in an interview published Friday, June 19. “I let out this guttural scream and I just was running, and these weird sounds were coming out of me, like, primeval sounds. 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.”
Daveigh’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, announced on Wednesday, June 17, that the actress had died one day prior. He claimed that Daviegh had meningitis and an infection in her blood that causes sepsis, a life-threatening illness that can cause organ failure.
Days earlier, Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover Daveigh’s medical expenses.
“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,” he wrote in the fundraiser description. “All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy. Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days.”
Cathy, for her part, claimed to the Daily Mail that she found out about Daveigh’s death through the media after years questioning her daughter’s health.
“I would just put her name in the coroner’s [search system] and see if her name came up and if somebody had her somewhere,” Cathy recalled to the outlet. “I would look at their list of unidentified bodies. It was very difficult, but you do everything you can as a mother.”
According to Cathy, Daveigh allegedly struggled with substance abuse issues after injuring her back in a 2016 motorcycle accident.
“She was seeking drugs and was partying with the wrong people,” Cathy claimed. “I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her hooked on some drugs. That was the beginning.”
Cathy further claimed that she last saw Daveigh in October 2019.
“She was completely gone, like, out of her mind. I honestly thought there was something wrong with her,” Cathy said. “My daughter was never diagnosed with mental health other than PTSD, but the drugs took hold of her.”
Daveigh is survived by her parents, her brother and her boyfriend. Cathy also helped identify the Donnie Darko actress’ body earlier this week.
“[The hospital chaplain and I] were able to lay hands and pray,” Cathy told the Daily Mail. “Technically, we were touching the glass, but it’s as close as we could get, so we were able to lay hands and pray for her. It was a beautiful experience, and, and I feel very blessed, too, have been able to share that with my daughter.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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