Naya Rivera’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, has taken to Instagram almost two weeks after the Glee star’s body was found at Lake Piru after an accidental drowning.
Dorsey, the father of their four-year-old son Josey, expressed how “unfair” Rivera’s death was and that “there’s not enough words to express the hole left in everyone’s hearts. [sic]”
“I can’t believe this is life now. I don’t know if I’ll ever believe it. You were just here…
“We were just in the back swimming with Josey the day before. Life just isn’t fair. I don’t know what to say…” he continued.
Accompanying his tribute was a photograph of Rivera and their son embracing during a sunset.
“I’m thankful for our times and our journey that brought us together and gave us the sweetest and kindest smart little boy we could ever hope for.”
Dorsey also recalled how Rivera used to ask him to stop “snap chatting”, however, he was now grateful for the “hundreds and probably thousands of snaps and videos that Josey will have forever and know his momma loved him more than life, and how much fun we had together as he was growing up. [sic]”
“Life is all about good times and bad times but with Josey, it makes the bad a little less so because a part of you will always be with us. He’ll never forget where he came from. We miss you. We will always love you. Love you Meep.”
Further down, the actor then “everyone that reached out” and for the “overwhelming love and support” he received after her death.
“I’ll just say in closing, be kind to yourself, be kind to others, forgive…forget…don’t hold grudges….if you have nothing nice to say maybe try not to say anything.
“There’s peace in silence. Time on Earth is precious and you just never know….you never know what could happen. Hold your loved ones close, and cherish the times you have with those you care about.”
Rivera and Dorsey were married in July 2014, before divorcing in 2018 — sharing joint custody of Josey.
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Naya Rivera’s Cause of Death Ruled As “Accidental Drowning”
Update: July 15, 2020
The cause of Glee actor Naya River’s death has been revealed as an “accidental drowning”.
In a report released by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office, it stated that no drugs or alcohol played a role in her death, however, further toxicology tests will be conducted.
According to the statement, no traumatic injuries or diseases were found.
The attached document was just released by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office regarding Naya Rivera, whose body was found yesterday in Lake Piru. pic.twitter.com/6APEgrBPaQ
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 14, 2020
The announcement comes after Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan set up a college fund for Rivera’s son, Josey.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of our friend Naya Rivera,” they said in a statement.
“Naya was more than just an actor on our show- she was our friend,” they said before adding: “The three of us are currently in the process of creating a college fund for the beautiful son Naya loved most of all.”
What We Know About the Death of ‘Glee’ Actor Naya Rivera
Update: July 14, 2020
The body of Glee actor Naya Rivera has been found almost a week after she went missing after swimming with her four-year-old son.
The 33-year-old had taken out a rented boat at Lake Piru, about 90km northwest of downtown Los Angeles on July 8.
After she failed to return the vessel, authorities were called. Her son Josey was alone and asleep on the boat, with Rivera, nowhere to be found.
According to TMZ when the news broke, the child told deputies his mum had jumped into the water but didn’t come back up to the surface. He was found wearing a life jacket and wrapped in a towel, however, what was presumed to be his mothers was still inside the boat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCmk7rrJAVw/
Upon further investigation, Josey had said that after swimming, his mother had boosted him up into the boat. In a press conference after she was found, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said that Rivera had “mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
“We know from speaking with her son that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey,” he said.
“It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who, quote, ‘boosted him onto the deck from behind.’
“He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.”
During the media call, Ayub also dais that they had “pulled a body from the water” and that while an official autopsy and identification were still to happen, they were “confident” it was the actor due to the location of the body and the physical characteristics.
Ayub also stated that there was “no indication of foul play” and “no indication this was a suicide”.
Before her body was recovered, some of Rivera’s family, friends and former Glee castmates stood hand-in-hand at the shoreline while waiting for more information.
The news also comes exactly seven years after former Glee castmate Cory Monteith was found dead from an accidental overdose.
A petition has now started to ban swimming “in these dangerous waters”.
When Rivera was reported missing, divers began a search mission immediately, however, the following morning authorities changed the status from a “rescue” to a “recovery mission”, believing she had drowned.
During the search — which went for approximately six days — rescuers had said that there were only 5 to 9 inches (approx 13cm to 23cm) of visibility due to the lake being filled with trees and other debris.
The boat was found in about 30 feet (nine metres) of water, however, due to the debris and the lake being uneven, searchers had to primarily rely on sonar (sound navigation ranging).
Following her disappearance, authorities released security cam footage as well as the 911 call that was made by the woman who discovered Rivera’s son (she incorrectly called him a little girl on the 911 call).
“Lake Piru. The emergency is we have a missing person. We found a little girl in one of the boats by herself and her mom is nowhere to be found,” the caller told the dispatcher.
In the footage, released by the American Associated Press, the actor pulls up to the jetty in a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon and walks with her small son over to the pontoon where they enter the rented vessel and head off into the lake.
WATCH: Footage of Naya Rivera security camera is released. AAP. Story continues…
On July 10, it was announced that although the mission was continuing, the amount of rescue personnel had scaled back from 100 divers to 40.
“We don’t know if she’s going to be found five minutes from now or five days from now,” Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Buschow said in a press conference that same day.
On July 13, the same Sheriff’s department urged family, friends (including fellow co-star Heather Morris) and fans from aiding in the search effort due to the unpredictable nature of the surroundings.
“It’s going to be oppressively hot. It’s very steep, very rugged,” Buschow said in a statement.
“They’re well-intentioned, they want to help. That takes away from the search for Naya Rivera.”
“We have people who have been doing this for years and years. We have search and rescue operations that take place all the time,” he added. “There is no evidence that she made it to land. It’s doubtful she would get to shore and she would have been seen.”
Lake Piru is now closed off to anyone who is not part of the official search and rescue team.
In further updates, rescuers have now expanded their search area beyond the lake, including surrounding cabins, outbuildings and other areas.
In today’s search for Naya Rivera, cabins and outbuildings in the surrounding area will be checked once again, as well as the shoreline. This has been part of the ongoing search effort since her disappearance on Wednesday afternoon. Boat crews continue to scan the lake.
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 12, 2020
One diver involved in the search shared a theory on what happened to Rivera with The Daily Mail.
Diver Robert Inglis said that some areas of the lake are more shallow than people realise and she may have hit her head.
“People have broken their necks before,” he told the outlet. “It’s happened in pools quite frequently; it can happen in lakes as well.”
Inglis called Lake Piru an “underwater forest” and “if you go into some coves, you could have 3ft off the bottom and not even see it until you jumped in,” he said.
“With the lake when you start to get more north because that’s where the shallow part of the lake is. There’s a lot of brush, you have these trees that are there and they do stick up.”
Rivera played Santana Lopez on Glee from 2009 to 2015.
More information as it comes to light.