
As reported on CNN –
Officials are investigating the disappearance of “Glee” actress Naya Rivera at a lake in Southern California as a “tragic accident,” according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.”
We hope for the best, we prepare for the worst,” Deputy Chris Dyer said in a news conference Thursday morning.
Rivera, 33, vanished from Lake Piru in Ventura County on Wednesday evening. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said search efforts would resume Thursday “at first light” and called it a possible drowning.
Rivera went to the lake Wednesday afternoon and rented a boat with her young child. Both were seen going out on the lake together, Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Buschow said at an earlier news conference.
About three hours after they left the dock, another boater discovered a boat drifting with a child asleep onboard. Authorities were notified and they began searching from air and with a dive team.
While it was hard to get information, the child said they went swimming but the mother didn’t get back on the boat, Buschow said. He said the child had on a life vest and an adult life vest was found on the boat.
The child is healthy and with family, Dyer said Thursday morning.
The boat that Rivera rented — a pontoon boat with a deck cover — was found on the north end of the lake, Dyer said. Wind is often a factor in the area, he said. The lake is up to 40 feet deep, and the bottom has a lot of debris.
Rivera has a 4-year-old son and local media outlets are reporting he was the child found on the boat. CNN has reached out to her representatives for more details.
Rivera played Santana Lopez on the Fox show for six years from 2009, and appeared in nearly every episode of the musical-comedy-drama. She was also on the CBS sitcom “The Royal Family” and in the comedy film “The Master of Disguise.”
Fellow celebs, including her “Glee” co-star Harry Shum Jr., shared their concern on social media.
Rivera was previously married to actor Ryan Dorsey.
We’ll bring you more as this story develops.
July 13, 2020 –
As reported CNN.com –
A body has been found at the Southern California lake where former “Glee” actress Naya Rivera disappeared, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced in a tweet Monday. The body, which has not been identified, was discovered Monday morning at Lake Piru. “Recovery is in progress,” tweeted the VCSO.A news conference is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s department has notified Rivera’s family and the medical examiner’s office of the body found in Lake Piru, Capt Eric Buschow said Monday morning.
“When you have a situation like this and it ends up being a recovery, it’s hard for everybody involved. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for the family,” Buschow said in a live interview with KTLA Monday morning. “Hopefully this provides some level of closure, whatever that means, for the family.”
He did not give confirmation that it is indeed Rivera’s body.
The body was found floating in the northeast area of the lake Monday morning.
Authorities have been searching for Rivera, 33, since Wednesday. She had gone to the lake that afternoon and rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son, according to authorities.
Rivera’s son was later seen on the boat, but his mother was nowhere to be found. One life jacket was found on the boat and the boy was wearing another. Investigators found Rivera’s purse and her identification, but no other clues on the boat.
Rivera has been presumed dead.
Video from the dock shows Rivera and her son as the only two people getting on the boat, Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said at a news conference last week.
Detectives have spoken to Rivera’s son and as a result of that conversation do not believe Rivera made it to shore, he said.
Rivera played Santana Lopez on the Fox show “Glee” for six years between 2009 and 2015, and appeared in nearly every episode of the musical-comedy-drama. She was also on the CBS sitcom “The Royal Family” and in the comedy film “The Master of Disguise.”
Update 3pm:
The body found at a Southern California lake has been identified as former “Glee” actress Naya Rivera, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said during a press conference Monday.
The body was discovered Monday morning at Lake Piru, where it was found floating in the northeast area of the lake where the water is between 35 and 60 feet deep, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said.
“We are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera,” Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said, adding “there is no indication of foul play or that this was a suicide.”
The body is being taken to Ventura County Coroner’s Office, where it will be identified through dental records.
Prayers go out to Rivera’s family that she leaves behind.