Content warning: This article mentions drowning and death.
After going missing on Wednesday, “Glee” star Naya Rivera is presumed dead. This is following the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s recent findings around the area of Lake Piru, California, where Rivera was last seen boating with her four-year-old son.
According to the local authorities, the workers from the dock alerted them of the actress’ disappearance after the latter’s rented boat was not returned on time. When they got to the boat, which they saw docked in the northern part of the lake, they only found Rivera’s son and a life vest.
The area where the boat was found is said to be around 30 feet deep and full of trees and plants, making it unsafe for divers because of underwater entanglement. “We’ve had no indication, after talking to her son, that Ms. Rivera made it to shore,” Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said. “So the focus of our search efforts are in the water at this time.”
Sgt. Donoghue pointed out that they found an unattended life vest on the boat Rivera rented, with her son wearing another one. “If the body is entangled beneath the water, it may never come back up,” he added after initially saying that they were searching for a “possible drowning victim.”
Capt. Eric Bushow told the Los Angeles Times that they’re “going on the belief that she did go in the water and we have not been able to locate her. So this may well be a case of drowning.” After presuming the actress is dead (since they believe there was no foul play), local authorities are now conducting a “search and recovery operation.”
When news broke about Rivera, many have expressed their love and sympathy for the actress and her family—including her “Glee” co-stars. Heather Morris, who played her on-screen lover in “Glee,” even posted on her Instagram stories saying, “We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us. We need your love and light.”
Prior to their boat trip, Rivera posted a photo of her and her son with the caption: “Just the two of us.”
Currently, Rivera’s four-year-old son is safe in the hands of family members. Watch this space for more information on Rivera’s disappearance.
Screengrab from an episode of “Glee”
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