Naya Rivera missing: ‘Little to no evidence’ that feared dead Glee star made it back to shore

Officials said it could take several days to recover the actor's body

There is said to be “little to no evidence” that Glee star Naya Rivera, who disappeared after going swimming in California’s Lake Piru, made it back to shore.

Rivera rented a pontoon boat with her four-year-old son on Wednesday (8 July), but when she failed to return it after her allotted three hours, the actor was assumed missing.

Her young son was left alone on the boat. Officials told NBC Los Angeles that he was sleeping when employees at Lake Piru found him.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, who held a press conference with local reporters on Thursday (9 July), are now searching for a presumed drowning victim.

Sgt Kevin Donoghue, having interviewed Rivera’s son, said there was small evidence to suggest the actor made it back to shore.

If this is the case, it could take between two and three days to recover Rivera’s body.

According to Ventura Country Star reporter Jeremy Childs, Donoghue also said there is no reason to believe that the actor died by suicide.

The pontoon boat that Rivera, 33, had rented was unanchored and found bobbing in the water in the northern half of the lake, where swimming is permitted.

In this area, the water is estimated to be 30 feet deep with 15 feet visibility. This is currently where the search is focused.

Water and air searches continued until Thursday evening with a 100-strong crew. Donoghue warned that the water can have hypothermic conditions.

Rivera played Santana Lopez in hit Fox TV series Glee from 2004 to 2009. Her co-stars, including Demi Lovato and Heather Morris, urged fans to pray for the actor.

Lake Piru is closed to the public while the search continues.