Naya Rivera Update: Ventura County Sheriff Shifts From Search and Rescue to Recovery Operation

The Ventura County Sheriff has shifted its search for missing actress Naya Rivera from a search and rescue operation to a recovery one, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told TheWrap.

“We believe a tragic accident happened and she may have lost her life in the lake,” the spokesperson also said.

On Wednesday, Rivera was reported missing after a swimming accident in Ventura County, California.

Also Read: Naya Rivera, Former 'Glee' Star, Pronounced Dead at 33

Rivera had rented a boat at Lake Piru, a reservoir near Santa Clarita in nearby Los Angeles county, which departed from the dock around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. She was swimming with her 4-year-old son when, for unknown reasons, she submerged and did not resurface, Captain Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s department told TheWrap.

As the sun began to rise on Thursday morning, the Ventura County Sheriff’s office said via Twitter that Lake Piru would be closed to the public today as the search continued.

Also Read: Naya Rivera, Ne-Yo and Faizon Love to Star on YouTube Red Series 'Step Up: High Water'

“The search for Naya Rivera will continue this morning at Lake Piru. The lake will be closed to the public while search operations continue,” the tweet read. “Dive teams from throughout the region will be assisting us through mutual aid.”

The search for Naya Rivera will continue this morning at Lake Piru. The lake will be closed to the public while search operations continue. Dive teams from throughout the region will be assisting us through mutual aid. @VCAirUnit @Cal_OES @fillmoresheriff pic.twitter.com/q6LsHd8xaT

— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 9, 2020

Rivera was last seen in the water by her son, who is unharmed and was found alone on the boat at approximately 4:00 p.m. by other boaters. According to CBS Los Angeles, The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department had been using helicopters, drones and dive teams to locate the actress.

Naya Rivera currently appears in the recurring role of Collette Jones on the “Step Up” series adaptation which previously aired on YouTube Red and will air on Starz for its upcoming third season. Her other credits include “Devious Maids,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “American Dad.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Naya Rivera's 11 Most Memorable Roles, From 'Family Matters' to 'Glee' (Photos)

Though she's best known for the role of Santana Lopez on Fox's musical series "Glee," on which she starred from 2009 to 2015, Naya Rivera's acting career began with television roles in early 1990s. Here is a list of 11 of Rivera's most memorable roles throughout her career, from her beginnings as a child actress in the early up through her most recent role in "Step Up: High Water."
Getty
"The Royal Family" (1991-92)

Rivera's first television role was in the CBS sitcom "The Royal Family" when she was just 4 years old. She played the granddaughter of a mail carrier (Red Foxx) and his wife (Della Reese) whose grown daughter moves back home with her three kids.
CBS
"Family Matters" (1992-93)

She played another little girl named Gwendolyn in three episodes of "Family Matters." In one scene in the episode "Heart Strings," she asks Steve Urkel for love advice.
ABC
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1993)

Her next role was in one 1993 episode of "Fresh Prince" called "Bundle of Joy," playing a little girl named Cindy when she was 6 years old.
NBC
"Baywatch" (1996)

She also appeared in one 1996 episode of "Baywatch" called "Scorcher" as a girl named Willa who gets lost on the beach.
YouTube
"Even Stevens" (2002)

In 2002, Rivera appeared in one episode of this Disney Channel comedy, playing a girl who gets peeved when Shia LaBeouf's Louis gets gum stuck in her hair.
Disney Channel
"Soul Food" (2003)

She played Ahmad's girlfriend Lauryn in two 2003 episodes of this series that followed a multigenerational Black family in Chicago.
Showtime
"The Bernie Mac Show" (2002-06)

Rivera had a recurring role in this Fox sitcom, appearing in 11 episodes as a girl named Donna who befriends Mac's niece Vanessa (Camille Winbush).
Fox
"Glee" (2009-15)

Rivera's best-known role was Santana Lopez on Ryan Murphy's Fox musical series "Glee." Santana is a popular cheerleader who explores her identity as a lesbian and later falls in love with and marries her best friend, Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris).
Fox
"The View" (2014-15)

As she was wrapping work on "Glee," Rivera made six appearances as a guest co-host on the beloved ABC daytime talk show.
ABC
"Devious Maids" (2015)

She also had a recurring role as a maid named Blanca Alvarez in the third season of this Marc Cherry dramedy-mystery series.
Lifetime
"Step-Up: Highwater" (2018-19)

in this YouTube Original series, Rivera co-stars as the head of a performing arts high school in Atlanta where twins Tal and Janelle Baker have enrolled after moving from Ohio.
YouTube

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She’s been acting on television since the early 1990s

Though she's best known for the role of Santana Lopez on Fox's musical series "Glee," on which she starred from 2009 to 2015, Naya Rivera's acting career began with television roles in early 1990s. Here is a list of 11 of Rivera's most memorable roles throughout her career, from her beginnings as a child actress in the early up through her most recent role in "Step Up: High Water."

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Naya Rivera's 11 Most Memorable Roles, From 'Family Matters' to 'Glee' (Photos)

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