‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera missing, feared drowned in California lake where she took son on rented boat
- Search launched for actress after four-year-old son was found alone on boat she rented
- Rivera is best known for her role as high school cheerleader Santana Lopez in hit TV series
A Southern California lake will be closed while they search its waters for Glee star Naya Rivera, authorities said on Thursday.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department late Wednesday confirmed that Rivera, 33, is the person missing in the waters of Lake Piru, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) northwest of Los Angeles. The department said on Thursday that divers from other agencies in the region will join the search.
Helicopters and drones will also join the search, as they did on Wednesday, and authorities are checking the lake’s 19-kilometre (12-mile) shoreline.
KNBC reported late Wednesday that Rivera rented a pontoon boat at the Lake Piru reservoir and that her young son was found on the boat wearing a life vest. Rivera’s identification was found on the boat. Sheriff’s officials launched a boat and helicopter search but that was suspended by night-time.
“We’re going on the belief that she did go in the water and we have not been able to locate her. So this may well be a case of drowning,” Captain Eric Buschow said at a news conference.
