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Search still on for 'Glee' star Naya Rivera, believed to have drowned in a tragic accident

Search still on for 'Glee' star Naya Rivera, believed to have drowned in a tragic accident

The search continues for actress Naya Rivera, best known as the snarky Santana Lopez on "Glee," who is presumed dead after she disappeared from a rented boat on a Southern California lake Wednesday.

Investigators believe Rivera drowned in what appears to be a tragic accident, according to a statement released Thursday by Ventura County Sheriff's Office Capt. Eric Buschow.

“We don’t know if she’s going to be found five minutes from now or five days from now,” Buschow said at a news conference Friday.

The search effort to recover the body of Rivera, 33, resumed at daybreak Friday in Lake Piru. As of 6 p.m. EDT Friday, no remains had been found, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Teams had resumed efforts at first light, authorities said.

Rivera’s son told investigators that he and his mother had been swimming in the lake, and he got back in the boat, but Rivera did not, according to Buschow. The child is in the company of family.

"The interview with her son was key," said Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Donoghue, a spokesman for the agency. "We received enough specific details from him to lead us to conclude that she disappeared in the water and did not come back."

That's why the search effort is now entirely in the water, he said. Authorities are not releasing additional details about their interview with the boy out of respect for the family, he said.

How Friday's search for Naya Rivera changed

Friday's search effort looks different than Thursday's attempt, which ultimately had close to 100 people in the water at the man-made reservoir, said Donoghue.

"Today we put fewer divers in the water but more technology," he said.

Specialized equipment has arrived at the scene, including side-scan sonar, that will allow dive teams to search "smarter and more efficiently," Donoghue said. About 50 people will be searching the lake Friday, he said, including dive teams from Los Angeles and Tulare counties along with the local agency's unit. Helicopter crews also returned Friday along with cadaver dogs and an aerial drone.

The lake bed beneath the water has almost no visibility, which meant human divers had to basically search by feel. The side-scan sonar allows crews to target, and search for, objects with a specific size profile, he said. When objects are located, a remote drone can be sent to look at what the sonar sees, or divers can get in to look at those targets.

The lake is about 2 miles long. It was not immediately clear how much of the lake had been searched by Friday afternoon.

The search will continue until sundown, when conditions become too dangerous for divers after dark.

"We don't abandon the search at night," Donoghue added. "We keep personnel here in the event some clue surfaces."

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A switch from rescue to recovery, with 'terrible' visibility in the lake

On Thursday, the effort to find Rivera had transitioned to a search and recovery effort.

Police released security camera footage late Thursday showing the actress parking at the Lake Piru boat launch with her son and boarding the rented pontoon. Police also released the initial 911 call that signaled Rivera's disappearance.

“We found a little girl in the boat by herself and her mom is nowhere to be found,” the woman caller said in a calm voice, apparently referring to Rivera’s 4-year-old son Josey. "My husband was one of people first there and I'm going to find more information, but he told me to call it in."

Sheriff's officials said there was no evidence of foul play or any indication of a suicide. Authorities said Rivera had been to the lake in the past.

The difficult conditions have made the recovery operation a very slow process, according to Buschow.

In the area where the boat was found, the water was about 30 feet (9 meters) deep, authorities said. Murky waters heavy with vegetation made it difficult for divers to see more than about a foot ahead of them.

“In the lake, the visibility is terrible,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said.

He said the plants that proved challenging for divers may have been a problem for Rivera.

“If the body is entangled on something beneath the water, it may never come back up,” Donoghue said.

Drownings occur at the lake from time to time, Dyer said. "It's not so often because the lake has been low so that has affected attendance," he said. "When the lake is higher and it's hotter at the lake, drownings do happen."

What we know about Rivera's boating incident

The actress arrived at Lake Piru in Ventura County, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, around 1 p.m. Wednesday and rented a boat with her 4-year-old son, said Buschow.

Sheriff's officials said Thursday Rivera had been overdue to return her rental and a staff member went in search of her. The staff member discovered Rivera's child alone and asleep in a life vest aboard the boat at about 4 p.m.

Rivera's identification and an adult life vest were on the boat. Their vehicle remained at the site.

Rivera's son was pictured Thursday in the care of his father, actor Ryan Dorsey, in photos obtained by the Daily Mail.

USA TODAY has reached out to Rivera's publicist.

Search and Rescue teams use boats to look along the northern shore of Lake Piru on Thursday, July 9, 2020, for actress Naya Rivera. The "Glee" actress went missing after renting a boat with her 4-year-old son at Lake Piru on Wednesday.
Search and Rescue teams use boats to look along the northern shore of Lake Piru on Thursday, July 9, 2020, for actress Naya Rivera. The "Glee" actress went missing after renting a boat with her 4-year-old son at Lake Piru on Wednesday.

'Glee' and more of Rivera's career highlights

Rivera starred as Santana Lopez on the Fox musical dramedy "Glee," which ran from 2009 to 2015. A Southern California native, Rivera was born and raised in the Santa Clarita Valley of Los Angeles County, approximately 20 miles from Lake Piru.

She called her 4-year-old son “my greatest success, and I will never do any better than him” in her 2016 memoir “Sorry Not Sorry.” Rivera and Dorsey divorced in June 2018 after nearly four years of marriage.

The actress was engaged to rapper Big Sean in 2013, but their relationship ended a year later. The pair met on Twitter and collaborated musically, with the rapper appearing on Rivera’s debut single “Sorry.”

Actress Naya Rivera, known for her role in "Glee," was reported missing on Wednesday after her 4-year-old son was found floating by himself in a rented boat in Ventura County, California, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Actress Naya Rivera, known for her role in "Glee," was reported missing on Wednesday after her 4-year-old son was found floating by himself in a rented boat in Ventura County, California, according to CBS Los Angeles.

She started her career in entertainment at age 4, with recurring roles on "Family Matters" and "The Royal Family," as well as minor appearances on other shows like "Baywatch" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," according to IMDb.

Most recently, Rivera starred as Collette Jones for three seasons of the YouTube Red series "Step Up: High Water."

The day before she went missing, Rivera posted a picture on Instagram embracing her son with the caption, "Just the two of us."

On July 2, Rivera wrote on Instagram: "No matter the year, circumstance, or strife, every day you're alive is a blessing. Make the most of today and every day you are given. tomorrow is not promised."

'Glee' co-stars, more celebrities react

Several of Rivera's "Glee" castmates responded to the news, praying for her safe return.

"We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us," wrote Heather Morris, who played Brittany Pierce. "We need your love and light."

"Please pray for @nayarivera to be found safe and sound," singer Demi Lovato, who played one of Rivera's love interests in season 5 of the show, posted on her Instagram story alongside a photo of a lit candle.

Late Wednesday, Harry Shum Jr. (Mike Chang) tweeted, "Praying."

Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, who appeared on "Glee" as April Rhodes, tweeted that she was praying for Rivera to be found.

Chord Overstreet, who starred on "Glee," encouraged his Twitter followers to "love and hug on the people you can, while you can."

"I love you," he continued. "Everyone please send out your prayers."

Alex Newell, who played Unique Adams on the show, tweeted, "NOTHING is impossible for my God!"

Lauren Potter, who played Becky Jackson, recalled in a tweet that she spoke with Rivera on Potter's birthday in May.

"I love you," Potter added.

Dot-Marie Jones, who portrayed Coach Beiste, encouraged her Instagram followers to "PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!"

"THIS CANT BE!!!" she wrote. "#nayarivera I LOVE YOU GIRL"

Actress Jackée Harry, who made a cameo as herself in season 5 of the show, tweeted, "Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera."

Harry shared a scene the two shot together from Rivera's first television series, "The Royal Family."

"I’ve watched her career blossom ever since," Harry wrote. "Please God, don’t cut this life short."

Other stars have also tweeted about the news, including Nicole Polizzi of "Jersey Shore" .

"Waking up to Naya Rivera missing is an absolute tragedy. Praying for her safety. 🙏🏽🙏🏽 So absolutely heartbreaking thinking of her 4 year old," she wrote with the hashtag #FindNaya.

Contributing: Ventura County Star, The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Naya Rivera: Search continues for 'Glee' star after presumed drowning