February 17, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Glee Star Naya Rivera’s Body Found

On Wednesday July 8th at 1pm 33 year old former Glee Star Naya Rivera and son, 4 year old Josey Hollis Dorsey, rented a pontoon boat for a day of swimming on Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. 

At around 5pm police responded to a report of a small boy alone on a boat in the middle of the lake. Josey was recovered from the pontoon boat unharmed and when asked by authorities what happened he told them his mother didn’t come back into the boat after they were done swimming. It is believed that the little boy had on a life vest while Rivera did not, as a life vest was found on board the boat. 

Authorities launched a search and rescue dive team along with helicopters and drones to help search for the young actress/singer. The search went well into Wednesday evening and the operation was being called a search and rescue operation. The search continued for five days but turned up empty until Monday morning. 

Capt. Eric Buschow, of the sheriff’s department, said “There’s a lot of challenges in a reservoir this size, at times with visibility, I don’t have details yet as to the depth of the area where the boat was found or what conditions they’re encountering out there.”

In the following days hope was kept alive and  several attempts were made to find the former Glee star. Heather Morris, a co-star and love interest of Rivera on the show, had this to say, “My name is Heather Morris, I’m Naya’s close friend and co-worker, and I’m trying to conduct an on foot search and rescue mission along with a small group of friends at Lake Piru. I understand your team is doing EVERYTHING in their power, but we are feeling helpless, powerless, and want to help in any way,” Morris wrote in a series of tweets.

Five days later, Rivera’s body was found. The Ventura County Medical Examiner announced that an autopsy had been conducted and revealed Rivera’s cause of death as drowning and the manner of her death was an accident.

Lake Piru has been the site of several drownings over the years, and the actress’ disappearance prompted a petition calling for signs warning swimmers of its dangerous conditions.

Rivera’s work on the Fox show Glee moved the needle in how queer characters are represented and portrayed on mainstream TV and she became an icon for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout her character arc on the show her character, Santana Lopez, discovers that she is a lesbian and falls for her best friend Britney, played by Heather Morris. 

Our hearts go out to Naya Rivera’s loved ones during this difficult time.

Related Posts

(Video) Enjoy Beach Proximity and Prime Amenities at Ocean View Hotel

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

For More Info, Go To Oceanviewsantamonica.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/1RJBAOG3rO pic.twitter.com/1KlN8OZQeO — Palisades News (@PalisadesNewsLA) February 17, 2025

Transgender Man Found Dead in New York Field After Torture; Five Arrested for Murder

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Brutal Murder of Transgender Man in Upstate New York Sickens Officials After the Trump administration has continued to target transgender...

Iconic Gloria Vanderbilt Estate Hits the Market for the First Time in 72 Years

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Historic Beverly Hills Mansion With Star-Studded Past Listed at $16.5 Million For the first time in 72 years, the historic...

Get Your Collector’s Edition of Anora Screenplay This Week

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Exclusive Giveaway at Top Indie Bookstores in Los Angeles Neon is celebrating the success of Anora by partnering with independent...

State Farm Faces Scrutiny Over Emergency Rate Hike Request From State Official

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Commissioner Lara Demands Answers on Financial Stability and Consumer Impact California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has responded to State Farm’s...

Anger Rises Over The Erasure of Transgender and Queer People From National Park Website

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Trump Administration Tries to Deny LGBTQ+ History  GLAAD and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative have condemned the Trump administration’s...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...

Here are Your Last Minute Ideas if You Still Haven’t Planned Your Valentine’s Day Date

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Luscious Cookies, Delightful Drinks, Full Dinners at Home or In House, We’ve Got Them Okay, maybe you have been a...

Beloved Baldwin Hills Family-Owned Restaurant Post & Beam to Close After 13 Years

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Community Icon Shuts Doors as Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Redevelopment  In yet another loss for the Los Angeles culinary community,...

Santa Monica Hotel Event Space Offers Affordability, Accessibility

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Elevate Your Events with Versatile Venues and Exceptional Service Coastal stays and eclectic event spaces don’t have to be expensive....

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe to Bring Brooklyn-Style Pizza to Brentwood This Week

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Family-Owned Favorite from the Palisades to Open on San Vicente  Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a restaurant from Pacific Palisades run...

LA Attorney Who Represented Rodney King Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion Scheme

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Milton C. Grimes Ordered To Serve Time in Prison and Pay Restitution Milton C. Grimes, a longtime Los Angeles attorney,...

ART& 2025: NeueHouse Unveils Inspiring Lineup Celebrating Feminine Leadership

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Four-Day Event in Venice Beach Explores Creativity, Activism, and Cultural Impact NeueHouse has unveiled the schedule for ART& 2025, a...

Free Sandbags Available for West Hollywood Residents Ahead of Heavy Rain

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

City Distributes Sandbags to Help Protect Homes and Businesses from Flooding West Hollywood residents and businesses can receive free sandbags...