The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office has announced the cause of death of Davey Chase, who voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and starred in The Ring. Chase passed away on June 16th at the age of 35 in Los Angeles.
Chase, also known as Davey Schwarrier, died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), according to the coroner’s office. A secondary cause is listed as “chronic polysubstance use.” Chase’s father, John David Schwarrier, told the New York Times that Chase had been homeless and struggled with drugs since he was 13 years old. He said he hadn’t spoken to Chase in years.
Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, initially told TMZ that she had meningitis and sepsis, a severe reaction to an infection. In a GoFundMe post before her death, Hernandez wrote, “After a difficult childhood and a painful rift with her family, Davey was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown Los Angeles. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together we found a moment of happiness and hope.”
After Chase went out of business around 2016, he encountered legal troubles, including charges of driving a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.
After his breakout role as the voice of Lilo, Chase went on to voice roles on “Stitch! The Movie” (2003), “Leroy & Stitch” (2006), and Disney Channel’s “Lilo & Stitch: The Series.” In HBO’s “Big Love,” she played Rhonda Vollmer, a teenager who is the childhood bride of fundamentalist prophet Roman Grant.
She played the creepy girl Samara Morgan in the horror hit The Ring, played Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in Donnie Darko, and appeared in the 2009 sequel S. Darko.
