Naya Rivera’s 4-year-old son told investigators that his mother called for help before she drowned, according to an autopsy report obtained by the Associated Press on Friday.
The former “Glee” star “put her arm up in the air and yelled ‘help” before she “disappeared into the water,” the report said.
Rivera’s death was ruled an accidental drowning by the Ventura County Medical Examiner back in July, stating that no evidence of physical trauma or disease was found and no drugs or alcohol were believed to have played a role in her death.
Rivera was reported missing on July 8 after her 4-year-old son, Josey, was found alone on a boat on Lake Piru, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The boy told authorities Rivera had jumped into the water but did not come back up.
After a lengthy search hindered by visibility issues, a body was recovered on Monday, six days into the recovery effort. The autopsy report stated that Rivera was an able swimmer but had previously suffered from vertigo and a recent sinus infection, the AP reported.
Tests showed anti-anxiety and appetite suppressing drugs in Rivera’s system, though the autopsy report did not list them as factors in her death.
In addition to starring on “Glee” for six seasons, Rivera most recently appeared in the series adaptation of the “Step Up” movies, which previously aired on YouTube Red and will move over to Starz for its upcoming third season. Her other credits include “Devious Maids,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “American Dad.”
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