Following the passing of 35-year-old actress Daveigh Chase on June 16, 2026, a public dispute has erupted over a memorial fundraiser. John Ryan Jr., her former manager, explicitly cast doubt on a GoFundMe campaign launched by Roy Hernandez, a man claiming to be her boyfriend. Ryan urged the public to withhold donations until the campaign can be independently verified.
What We Know
- Daveigh Chase passed away from meningitis, severe blood infections, and sepsis.
- Organizer Roy Hernandez launched a GoFundMe seeking $5,500 to provide a “sense of home and peace in her final days.”
- Manager John Ryan Jr. stated that Chase’s close friends and family do not know Hernandez.
- Ryan confirmed Chase’s father has already contacted the hospital to claim her body.
The financial logistics surrounding her memorial are actively contested. When Daveigh Chase died at 35, she still retained professional safety nets from her early Hollywood career. Ryan confirmed she has a SAG trust account containing “more than enough funds” to cover her medical and memorial expenses, according to Parade.
Hernandez defended his actions to the press following Ryan’s statements. He insisted his efforts are completely legitimate and denied any shady business. He dismissed the manager’s accusations as “100 percent” false in a detailed report by TMZ.
The conflict over the $5,500 campaign brings attention to her living conditions prior to the hospitalization. While she maintained a fully funded SAG trust, reports indicate she experienced estrangement from her family. She struggled with periods of homelessness in Los Angeles’ Skid Row before her death, as The Express Tribune noted.