Ventura County sheriff ‘confident’ that body found in Lake Piru is missing actress Naya Rivera

Ventura County, Calif., Sheriff Bill Ayub said on Monday he is “confident” that a body recovered from Lake Piru is former “Glee” actress Naya Rivera. She has been missing since Wednesday, when she rented a boat at the lake.

Video Transcript

BILL AYUB: As you know, since last Wednesday, we've been here at Lake Piru, searching for Naya Rivera, who was reported missing. Each day, we've utilized dozens of personnel on watercraft and helicopters with unmanned aerial systems, and on shore, conducting a methodical and comprehensive search. Today, our search teams have recovered a body in the lake.

Based on the location of where the body was found, physical characteristics of the body, clothing found on the body, and the physical condition of the body, as well as the absence of any other persons reported missing in the area, we are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera. She was found in a Northeastern portion of the lake near the surface of the water. The depth of the water in that area is between 35 and 60 feet deep. And there's heavy brush and trees on the lake bed there.

As you can imagine, it has been an extremely difficult time for her family throughout this ordeal. As fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, our hearts are with them. And we share in their grief for Naya's loss. We've been in direct contact with the family throughout this entire time, and we've kept them updated on the progress of our search efforts throughout.

Our hearts also go out to Naya's many friends and fans, who have been holding out hope for the best over the past few days. Detectives from our major crimes bureau began working this case from the onset. Their work on this case revealed there was no indication of foul play and no indication this was a suicide. Moving forward, Naya's body is being taken to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office in Ventura, where an autopsy will be performed and a positive identification will be made through the examination of dental records.