Naya Rivera’s Family Released a Statement About Their “Sassy Angel”
"Naya was an amazing talent, but was an even greater person, mother, daughter, and sister."
On July 13th, five days after Naya Rivera went missing following a boating trip with her son on Lake Piru in California, Ventura County officials pronounced the 33-year-old dead of accidental drowning. Yesterday, July 14th, Rivera’s family released a public statement in remembrance of the daughter, mother, and sister, whom they call their “sassy angel.”
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers for Naya, Josey and our family over the past week,” the statement reads. “While we grieve the loss of our beautiful legend, we are blessed to honor her everlasting legacy and magnetic spirit. Naya was an amazing talent, but was an even greater person, mother, daughter and sister.”
Rivera’s parents, Yolanda and George; brother, Mychal; and sister, Nickayala, are named in the letter, along with Naya’s 4-year-old son, Josey.
On Wednesday, July 8th, Rivera rented a pontoon boat with Josey. Hours later, rescuers found Josey asleep on the boat wearing a life vest. Another life vest, along with Rivera’s purse and wallet, were found on the boat. According to CNN, Josey “told rescuers he and his mother had gone into the water to swim, but she did not get back on the boat. He told investigators he then looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.”
After a six-day search, CNN reports, Rivera’s body, which was later identified through dental records, was found floating in an area of the lake where the water reaches up to 60 feet deep. The autopsy revealed no evidence of foul play, suicide, or substances. In a press conference on July 13th, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said he believed Rivera used the last of her strength to push her son back onto the boat, but she could not garner enough energy “to save herself.”
In their statement, Rivera’s family thanked the Ventura, Tulare, and San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s departments for their “commitment and unwavering effort to find Naya,” and expressed their gratitude to “the heroine who found her.”
Rivera was best known for her role as Santana Lopez on Glee, which aired from 2009 to 2015. Since her disappearance on July 8th, her former costars, and other celebrities and fans, have come out in droves to pay tribute to her legacy. On July 13th, the cast gathered at Lake Piru in prayer, during which time Rivera’s body was found.
“Heaven gained our sassy angel,” the Rivera family’s statement concludes. “We kindly request that our privacy be respected during this very difficult time.” You can read the letter in full, alongside family photos they shared, on Deadline here.
