Naya Rivera Screamed for Help Before Drowning, Investigation Reveals

By Madelaine D. First Posted: Sep 12, 2020 10:16 AM EDT

"Glee" star Naya Rivera yelled out for help before she accidentally drowned, according to an investigative report.

According to the report obtained by Fox News on Friday, Rivera called for help before she drowned while boating with her son at Lake Piru in July.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner released Rivera's full autopsy report, which details the actress' final moments after helping her four-year-old son, who was found sleeping on the vessel up onto the rental boat.

Before the accidental drowning, Josey, Rivera's son, said he and the 33-year old actress "counted '1,2,3' then jumped off the boat together," as per the investigative report. Then Rivera told her son to get back on the boat, not too long after.

"She helped Josey onto the boat, and he then heard Rivera shout 'help' and put her arm in the air. She then disappeared into the water," the report stated.

The official autopsy report indicated that Rivera was considered to be a good swimmer. The lake attendant who rented Naya's boat said that Rivera declined a life vest, but the attendant included one for her anyway.

The medical examiner discovered that Naya had a small amount of prescribed amphetamines in her system through toxicology tests. But the examiner did not determine any physical conditions or drugs as factors to Rivera's death.

Naya Rivera Screamed for Help before Drowning Investigators Reveal

(Photo : Frazer Harrison)
Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Hangover Part 3" - Arrivals WESTWOOD, CA - MAY 20: Actress Naya Rivera attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Hangover Part 3" at Westwood Village Theater on May 20, 2013 in Westwood, California.

Rivera dealt with vertigo problems and had a sinus infection, the investigation revealed. Fox News reported that the toxicology tests also indicated that Rivera's system had a small trace of therapeutic amounts of anti-anxiety drug diazepam and appetite suppressant phentermine.

According to the autopsy report, there was no known history of suicidal attempt or ideation. Drowning remains the cause of Naya Rivera's death in the manner of an accident, the report further noted.

Rivera's body was located on July 13, five days after the actress disappeared in an area of the lake that was 30ft. deep.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said that Rivera was most likely trapped in vegetation underwater for several days before her body floats to the top.

The day before she died, Rivera tweeted a photo with her son that read, "just the two of us." The "Glee" star called Josey "my greatest success, and I will never do any better than him."

The death certificate obtained by People and Entertainment Tonight stated that on July 24, two weeks after her death, Rivera was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

The sources reported that the death certificate was filed in California, where the actress died.