The efforts to find missing “Glee” star Naya Rivera have shifted to a recovery mission with the actress presumed dead, authorities announced Thursday.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said they believe the 33-year-old accidentally drowned at Lake Piru, NY Post reports.
“The goal is still to bring Ms. Rivera home to her family so they can have some closure,” Deputy Chris Dyer told reporters.
Rivera was reported missing after she on Wednesday after renting out a platoon boat around 1 p.m. with her 4-year-old son, Josey. When she didn’t return the boat at 4 p.m., the man she rented the boat from went out to find them, authorities said.
That is when he discovered the boy sleeping alone on the vessel — while Rivera was nowhere to be found, officials said. The boy told police he went swimming with his mom but she never returned to the boat.
Deputy Chris Dyer said search efforts began immediately but the operation was temporarily called off due to “dangerous conditions.”
“During the nighttime, the search effort continues with optimal planning and figuring out how to best optimize our resources for today’s effort,” Dyer said.
Dyer adds that the actress had been to the lake before and was familiar with the waters. There is no foul play being suspected at this time. Her family currently has custody of her son and was present for the recovery efforts, KTLA reports.
Rivera welcomes her son with actor Ryan Dorsey prior to their divorce in June 2018.
