Hollywood is mourning the loss of Naya Rivera.

On Monday (July 13), the former Glee actress’ body was found five days after she disappeared on a boating trip at Lake Piru in Ventura Country, California, with her 4-year-old son, Josey. She was 33.

Since the devastating discovery, it has since come out that Rivera may have spent the final moments of her life saving her baby boy.

During a news conference, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub recalled what Josey told authorities what happened in the moments leading up to his mother’s disappearance. "We know from speaking with her son, that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey. It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind," Ayub said, per Entertainment Weekly. "He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water."

The sheriff noted that there are “a lot of currents on the lake that appear particularly in the afternoon," which may have caused the boat to stray. "The idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored, and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself," he explained.

There is no evidence to suggest suicide or foul play was a factor in Rivera’s death.

Based on the location of the body recovered, physical characteristics and clothing, Ayub revealed they are “confident” that it is Rivera. As yet, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to perform an autopsy and the singer will be identified based on dental records.

Rivera first went missing on Wednesday evening (July 8). As the story goes, she’d rented a boat with her son and they both were seen going out on the lake together. The boat was found some three hours later with only Josey aboard, Rivera’s ID and wallet, and an adult life vest. Josey told authorities he last saw his mother go underwater.

Photo: Getty Images

Mick Lee

About Mick Lee