Naya Rivera: Police find body in search for missing Glee actress

Actress went missing last week after going boating with her young son
By Gary Flockhart
Published 13th Jul 2020, 18:27 BST
Updated 13th Jul 2020, 18:27 BST

A body has been found during a search at a California lake for actress Naya Rivera, officials said on Monday.

The 33-year-old, best known for playing a high school cheerleader on musical comedy series Glee, disappeared while on a boating trip with her four-year-old son at Lake Piru, north-west of Los Angeles, on Wednesday.

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A rescue mission was launched, but less than 24 hours later police said Rivera was presumed dead.

Naya Rivera was announced as missing after heading out to Lake Piru with her son (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)Naya Rivera was announced as missing after heading out to Lake Piru with her son (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)
Naya Rivera was announced as missing after heading out to Lake Piru with her son (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

A body was found on Monday, Ventura County Sheriff's Office said.

Recovery is in progress and a news conference will take place later.

Rivera is feared to have drowned at Lake Piru, which is a popular spot for swimmers about 56 miles north-west of central Los Angeles.

Her son, Josey Hollis, was found asleep and wearing a life jacket on the boat, with his mother nowhere to be seen.

He told police he had seen her disappear beneath the surface.

CCTV from the dock shows her rented boat departing at about 1pm and it was later found drifting in the northern area of the lake at around 4pm.

Investigators had stressed the many difficulties posed by the search, including strong currents, dangerous underwater debris and visibility of 1ft-2ft.

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