Naya Rivera's Death Certificate Revealed She Drowned "Within Minutes"
A private funeral was held 11 days after Rivera's body was recovered from Lake Piru in California.
Former Glee actor Naya Rivera has been laid to rest after her death certificate revealed she drowned "in minutes".
Rivera disappeared during a boating trip earlier this month, with authorities confirming her body had been found following a five-day recovery mission. She was 33.
Rivera had rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son, Josey. He was later found alone and asleep on the boat by someone else on the lake.
Days later, details from Rivera's autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was accidental drowning. Authorities believe she exerted all of her energy getting her son back into the boat after it began drifting while they were swimming.
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Speaking during a press conference, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said: "Her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind. He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water."
He added, "There are a lot of currents on the lake that appear particularly in the afternoon. We believe it was midafternoon when she disappeared. The idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored, and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back into the boat, but not enough to save herself."
Rivera's death certificate has been released by Ventura County, revealing she drowned "in minutes". It further indicated that the death was accidental, with no underlying causes or ailments. No drugs or alcohol were found in her system.
Rivera was laid to rest on July 24 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles in a small private service with around 25 people present, including Glee cast members.
Days later, Rivera's ex-husband and Josey's father, Ryan Dorsey, broke his silence on her death in an emotional Instagram post.
