InfoSearched
Published -
- July 13, 2020
- 5:37 pm
A body was found Monday at a Southern California lake during the search for “Glee” star Naya Rivera, authorities said.
The body was discovered five days after the 33-year-old Rivera disappeared on Lake Piru, where her son was found July 8 alone a few hours later on a boat the two had rented, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities would not immediately say if the person found was Rivera, but said the day after she disappeared that they believed she drowned in the lake northwest of Los Angeles. A 2 p.m. press conference was scheduled.
Search crews found the body floating in the northeast area of the lake and the county medical examiner was notified, authorities said.
The lake an hour’s drive from Los Angeles was searched by dozens of divers working in waters with little visibility, with help above from helicopters, drones and all-terrain vehicles.
Rivera played singing cheerleader Santana Lopez for six seasons on the Fox musical-comedy “Glee.”
If she is declared dead, she will become the third major cast member from the show to die in their 30s.
And co-star Mark Salling, who Rivera dated at one point, killed himself in 2018 at age 35 after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
Rivera had experience boating on the lake in Los Padres National Forest, authorities said.
Surveillance video shows Rivera and her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, leaving on the rented boat.
When the boat failed to return, its vendor found the vessel drifting in the northern end of the lake late Wednesday afternoon with the boy asleep on board. He told investigators that he and his mother had been swimming and he got back into the boat but she didn’t, according to a sheriff’s office statement.
The boy was wearing a life vest, and another life jacket was found in the boat along with Rivera’s purse and identification.
Rivera is believed to have drowned “in what appears to be a tragic accident,” the statement said.
The boy, Rivera’s son from her marriage to actor Ryan Dorsey, was safe and healthy and with family members, authorities said. The couple finalized their divorce in June 2018 after nearly four years of marriage.
The most recent tweet on Rivera’s account, from July 7, read “just the two of us” along with a photo of her and her son.
What was the outcome of the search for Naya Rivera at Lake Piru?
On July 8, 2020, the search for missing actress Naya Rivera at Lake Piru in Southern California ended in tragedy as a body was discovered. Rivera went missing on July 8 after renting a boat with her four-year-old son at the lake. The actress was best known for her role as Santana Lopez in the hit television series “Glee.”
Rivera’s son was found alone on the boat, asleep and wearing a life jacket. According to reports, the actress had taken her son for a swim but did not return to the boat. The alarm was raised when the boat was overdue for return and was discovered with her son on board.
Following her disappearance, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office launched a search and rescue mission with the help of a dive team, helicopters, and drones. The search was hampered by poor visibility and difficult terrain. Authorities scoured the lake for clues and even used sonar equipment to search the depths of the water.
After five days of searching, a body was discovered on July 13, 2020, in the lake by the search team. Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub confirmed the identity of the body as that of Naya Rivera. “We are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera,” said Ayub.
The discovery of the body brought an end to a tragic story that gripped the nation. Fans of the actress and the television show she was best known for expressed their condolences on social media.
The loss of Naya Rivera is a tragedy that has shaken the entertainment industry and the world at large. The actress was a talented performer who touched the lives of many people with her work. Beyond her work on television, Rivera was also an advocate for LGBT rights and a supporter of various charitable causes.
The search for Naya Rivera at Lake Piru was one that captured the attention of millions of people around the world. The discovery of her body has brought closure to her loved ones and fans who remain heartbroken at her untimely passing.
In the end, the legacy of Naya Rivera will live on through her work and the lives she touched during her time on earth. As the entertainment industry mourns her loss, we remember her as a talented and passionate performer who will be greatly missed.
