Tragic Details Found In Naya Rivera’s Autopsy Report
By Leslie Veliz
History - Science
Naya Rivera captivated audiences for six seasons as Santana Lopez on the popular show “Glee.” After it ended, she continued to act and was involved in some high-profile relationships, eventually marrying actor Ryan Dorsey and welcoming a son with him — Josey — in 2015.
Rivera loved being a mother, but her time with Josey was tragically cut short on July 8, 2020, when they went boating on Lake Piru near Los Angeles, California. A search was launched when she failed to return, and though her then four-year-old son was found alive, her body would only be discovered days later on July 13.
Toxicology tests done on Rivera’s body revealed that she had low amounts of drugs in her system as well as alcohol, but the medical examiner ruled that they didn’t play a large role in her accidental drowning. Ultimately, the Ventura County sheriff stated, “We believe that she mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
Rivera’s family members have recently opened up about how the loss has affected them, with her mother, Yolanda, stating that their pain is “indescribable.” Her sister Nickayla is now helping to raise Josey alongside Rivera’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, despite the controversy their relationship has attracted.