Naya Rivera: Cause of death confirmed as drowning by Ventura County Medical Examiner
'There is no indication from the investigation or examination that drugs or alcohol played a role in the decedent's death'
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Your support makes all the difference.Glee actress Naya Rivera drowned in Lake Piru by accident, an autopsy by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed on Tuesday.
Rivera's body was found on Monday five days after the 33-year-old went missing from a rented pontoon boat on the California lake, where she was swimming with her four-year-old son on 8 July.
The medical examiner's report confirmed the cause of death as drowning, and said that there were no signs of it being the result of anything other than an accident.
"The autopsy findings are consistent with a drowning and the condition of the body is consistent with the time that she was submerged. No traumatic injuries or disease processes were identified at autopsy," the report said.
"There is no indication from the investigation or examination that drugs or alcohol played a role in the decedent's death, but specimens will be submitted for toxicology testing."
Rivera's body was found at the northeast of Lake Piru, about 50 miles from Los Angeles in Ventura County on Monday.
The massive search went underway after her son, Josey, was found on the boat alone by another boater, according to KCAL-TV.
Josey, who was found asleep wearing a life jacket, told police that his mother went swimming but didn't get back on the boat.
An adult-sized life jacket was also found onboard along with some of Rivera's belongings.
The actress rose to fame playing the role of Santana Lopez on Glee between 2009 and 2015, and was most recently known for her role on Lifetime's Devious Maids.
Earlier on Tuesday, Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan shared their memories of working with Rivera, saying in a written statement that they were heartbroken at the loss of their friend.
"She was warm and caring and fiercely protective of the rest of the cast. She was tough and demanding. She was fun. She was kind. She was generous. There were ups and downs during the wonderful and stressful years we spent making Glee," their tribute said.
"We disagreed, we fought, we made up, then we fought some more, than we made up again. The kinds of things that happen in a family. Naya was more than just an actor on our show- she was our friend."
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