The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has announced that a body found at the Southern California lake Monday morning has been identified as that of 33-year-old former Glee actress Naya Rivera. She had been missing for six days after disappearing from a boat she had rented to go out onto the lake with her four-year-old son.
Sheriff Bill Ayub said during a news conference that based on the location, physical characteristics and clothing, as well as the absence of anyone else reported missing from the area, authorities are "confident" the body is that of Rivera.
Ayub informed the media that Rivera's body was found in a portion of the lake that was 35 to 60 feet deep, a boat crew spotted the body around 9:10 a.m. Monday. According to Ayub, there was “no indication of foul play and no indication this was a suicide."
Rivera disappeared at the lake last Wednesday afternoon, where she had rented the boat with her 4-year-old son, Josey Dorsey. Boaters found the child alone on the boat with Rivera's purse, wallet and life jacket.
It is believed that Rivera’s unanchored boat started to drift away from the actress and her son while they were swimming and that she managed to hoist her son back onto the boat but was unable to save herself.
Ayub stated that Josey “described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind. The toddler told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.
Rivera's body has been taken to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office for identification to be 100 per cent confirmed.
Her Glee family have paid tribute to her on Twitter saying,’Naya was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy. We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to GLEE, from the first episode to the last. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts go out to her family, friends and young son’.
Naya was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy. We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to GLEE, from the first episode to the last. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts go out to her family, friends and young son. pic.twitter.com/fV6BvQFZzJ
— GLEE (@OfficialGLEEtv) July 14, 2020
May you RIP Naya Rivera.
