A dispute over Daveigh Chase’s estimated $400,000 estate is intensifying as the late actress’ former business manager challenges her mother’s attempt to take control. John Ryan, who described himself as Chase’s friend and business manager, reportedly filed a declaration opposing Cathy Chase’s request to become administrator of her daughter’s estate. Ryan has instead aligned himself with Chase’s father, John Schwallier, who wants the court to appoint an independent third party to manage the estate.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Ryan claimed Chase became estranged from both parents at different points in her life. “Daveigh was estranged from her father when her parents divorced,” Ryan stated in his declaration. However, he claimed the actress’ relationship with her mother also deteriorated later.
Ryan alleged Chase told him “that in the mid-2000s she filed for legal emancipation from her mother.” According to his filing, Chase allegedly wanted to “take this action because she believed that her mother was taking advantage of [her] finances and putting [her] physical and mental well-being at risk.”
Ryan claimed he helped connect the former child star with business professionals who could assist her during the alleged emancipation process.
The assertions have not been proven in court, and Cathy has not been accused of a crime in connection with the estate proceedings.
Daveigh Chase’s Father Wants An Independent Administrator
Ryan’s objection follows an earlier filing from Schwallier, who also opposed Cathy’s request to administer their daughter’s estate. Chase’s father reportedly claimed his daughter and ex-wife had been estranged for years before the actress’ death.
Rather than asking to control the approximately $400,000 estate himself, Schwallier requested that the court appoint an independent administrator. Ryan said he supports that proposal.
The disagreement currently concerns who will oversee the estate, including managing its assets, obligations and probate proceedings. It does not represent a final ruling about how Chase’s assets will ultimately be distributed.
The court has not yet decided who will be appointed administrator.
Former Manager Previously Warned Fans About A Fundraiser
The estate battle is not the first dispute to emerge following Chase’s death. Ryan previously urged fans not to donate to a GoFundMe campaign that had reportedly been created to cover expenses associated with the actress’ passing. He claimed Chase’s “estate has plenty of means to pay for the cremation” and disputed the fundraiser’s legitimacy.
“That GoFundMe is not going toward ANY expenses for Daveigh,” Ryan told Deadline. “Myself, her father, her uncle and all of us close friends who knew her for decades are encouraging people not to donate to this page. This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue.”
Daveigh Chase Died At 35
Chase died at a Los Angeles hospital on June 16, 2026. She was 35. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed AIDS as her primary cause of death, with chronic polysubstance use identified as a contributing condition. Early accounts from her family indicated that she had also experienced severe bacterial meningitis, blood infections and sepsis that led to organ failure.
Following Chase’s death, her former friend Shawn Rosenthal recalled trying to locate the actress and help her. “It’s such a tragedy,” Rosenthal told PEOPLE. “She was an incredible singer, and we would play music together that, unfortunately, we never had a chance to record.”
He continued, “I wound up getting clean in 2023, which is why I haven’t seen her since then,” he continued. “Some of her sober friends and I were trying to find her and get her help, but to no avail. She was surrounding herself with the worst of the worst people. It’s such a tragedy because no one cared for her best interests at all. I pray she’s just finally at peace.”
Daveigh Chase Built A Memorable Career As A Child Star
Chase became widely recognized for two dramatically different performances released in 2002.
She voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s animated hit “Lilo & Stitch,” giving life to the lonely but spirited Hawaiian girl who befriends the destructive alien Stitch. That same year, Chase terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in “The Ring.” Her unsettling performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
The actress also appeared as Samantha Darko in “Donnie Darko” and later portrayed Rhonda Volmer on HBO’s “Big Love.”
