In a sad turn of events, the body of Glee actress Naya Rivera was found by a search crew on Monday, July 13, according to Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub. The cause of death has yet to be revealed. She was 33 years old.
“Based on the location where the body was found, physical characteristics of the body, clothing found on the body and the physical condition of the body, as well as the absence of any other persons reported missing in the area, we are confident that the body we found is that of Naya Rivera,” Ayub said.
The actress’ body surfaced at the northeastern part of Lake Piru early Monday morning. Authorities suspect that Rivera had saved her son by putting him on a boat before a current had taken Rivera down in the water where she was entangled in shrubbery.
“There are a lot of currents on the lake that appear typically in the afternoon,” Ayub said. “We believe it was mid-afternoon when she disappeared, the idea being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
Rivera had went missing last Wednesday (July 8) when she and her 4-year-old son, Josey Dorsey, went on a boating trip on Lake Piru in California. Her son was found asleep on the boat after the pontoon boat rental became overdue. Rivera’s son was wearing a lifejacket, but there appeared to be one adult lifejacket left on the boat.
Oddly enough, Rivera had sent a relative a photo of her son on the boat near a cove nearly two hours before her son was found. Fans have pointed out that Rivera’s body was found on the same day that former Glee cast member Cory Monteith died seven years ago today (July 13) of a drug overdose, according to TMZ. However, police officials have ruled out foul play.
“We are confident, based on the circumstances, she was not a victim of foul play. There is no indication of this being an abduction or a homicide,” police officials said in a statement. “There is also nothing to indicate it was a suicide either.”
Rivera is not the first person to die at Lake Piru. Over the last two decades, about 12 people have drowned at the 1,200-acre lake. The public is able to rent boats without proper supervision or assistance on the boats. At Lake Piru, restricted and dangerous swim areas are not under surveillance or marked off with signs.
Unlike public beaches and community pools, there’s no lifeguards on site surrounding the lake area to ensure safety. With that said, the lake should be closed as there have been one too many incidents.
Rest in peace Naya.
