The fight over Daveigh Chase’s estate has become almost as heartbreaking as the actress’s final months.
Months after the former child star’s death, new details are emerging about the life she shared with boyfriend Roy Hernandez, the proposal he says brought them closer than ever, and the final conversation they had before she died.
As relatives and former associates question Hernandez’s role in her life, he is now telling his side of a story that has left a $400,000 estate at the center of an increasingly bitter dispute.
4At the center of Hernandez’s emotional defense is the final conversation he says he shared with Daveigh Chase before her death on June 16.
According to Hernandez, the actress appeared stable enough the day before to discuss life after her hospital stay.
He claimed they discussed future plans and even a GoFundMe campaign that could help her live more comfortably after she was discharged. That optimism vanished the following morning.
“The next day is when they called me and they told me in the morning that she had like only hours,” Hernandez recalled while speaking to the Daily Mail. Fighting back tears, he added, “I was like, ‘What do you mean? She was perfectly fine when I left!’”
As doctors delivered the devastating news, Hernandez said Chase remained remarkably calm. Recounting their final exchange, he revealed that Chase told him, “I’m not afraid.”
According to Hernandez, she then turned the conversation toward him and asked, “You’re not afraid either, right?” to which he responded, “No, you’re right. I’m not afraid.”
Chase’s Boyfriend Fires Back At Claims He Exploited Her
4Since Daveigh Chase’s passing, Hernandez has faced intense scrutiny from her family and former manager, who have questioned both his influence on her life and his decision to launch a GoFundMe campaign.
Critics have accused him of attempting to profit from the “Donnie Darko” star’s death and have questioned why fundraising was necessary when she reportedly had access to a SAG trust account that could have helped cover medical expenses.
Others have alleged that he played a role in pulling her deeper into addiction. Hernandez firmly rejected those claims.
He also denied suggestions that he ignored her worsening health, insisting that both he and his mother repeatedly encouraged Chase to seek medical treatment. “I could only tell her so much. You can’t force somebody to go if they don’t want to go,” he shared.
Meanwhile, questions surrounding Chase’s health remain unanswered. Her full autopsy report, including toxicology findings, has yet to be released, and it remains unclear when she contracted HIV or when her diagnosis progressed to AIDS.
Daveigh Chase’s Engagement Surprise Adds New Twist To Estate Fight
4One of the biggest revelations from Hernandez’s interview was his claim that he and Chase were planning a future together.
According to him, he proposed to the child star in 2024 and she accepted. He later honored that commitment by tattooing “Daveigh” above his eye in February 2026, just months before her death.
The engagement claim is especially significant because Hernandez believes he should inherit Chase’s estimated $400,000 estate. That position has only intensified tensions with family members who have publicly challenged his role in her life.
Hernandez also addressed the GoFundMe controversy, insisting that Chase herself participated in conversations about creating the fundraiser while she was hospitalized. He further claimed that he has not received any of the roughly $4,500 raised through the campaign.
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Chase Estate Fight Deepens As Former Manager Challenges Mother
4As the debate over Daveigh Chase’s final years continues, the battle over who should control her estate has become even more contentious.
Prior to the claims from Hernandez that he was one of the people closest to the late actress before her death, a separate legal dispute emerged involving Chase’s family and a longtime business associate.
According to court filings obtained by PEOPLE, Chase’s former business manager, John Ryan, formally objected to her mother, Cathy’s request to oversee the actress’s estate after she died without a will.
Ryan argued that Chase’s mother should not automatically be entrusted with the role and instead backed the appointment of a neutral professional fiduciary.
The filing included startling allegations about Chase’s relationship with her mother. Ryan claimed the “Lilo & Stitch” star had once explored legal emancipation while she was still a minor due to concerns about her finances and overall well-being.
He further alleged that tensions between mother and daughter stretched back years and remained unresolved.
The estate has now drawn competing interests from multiple sides. Chase’s estranged father, John Schwallier, also opposed Cathy’s appointment and supported the idea of a third-party administrator.
Daveigh Chase Remembered As Child Stars Reflect On Fame’s Dark Side
While legal battles continue behind the scenes, others in Hollywood have been focused on remembering Chase’s life and career rather than the controversy surrounding her death.
Former child star Alexa PenaVega paid one of the most emotional tributes following Chase’s passing, grouping her alongside Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg as young actresses whose lives ended far too soon.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, PenaVega wrote, “Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh… my heart is heavy today.” She continued, “These aren’t just names from my childhood. They’re girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard.”
PenaVega used the moment to reflect on the unique pressures faced by young performers in Hollywood, noting that “We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or the support they deserved.”
The conversation grew even larger as other former child stars weighed in. Actress Anna Paquin later shared concerns about the industry’s treatment of young performers, while commentators and fellow actors pointed to the deaths of Chase, Panettiere, and Trachtenberg as evidence that greater support systems are still needed.
