NEW YORK -- (1010 WINS) — The search for "Glee" star Naya Rivera has shifted from a search and rescue effort to a "recovery" mission, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department announced Thurday afternoon.
"Investigators believe Rivera drowned in what appears to be a tragic accident," the Sheriff's Department said in a report.
At a press briefing, a Sheriff's Department official said, "we hope to bring closure to the family," adding that recovery of her body could take "2 to 3 days to a week."
The search for the 33-year-old in Southern California's Lake Piru resumed Thursday morning after she went missing Wednesday afternoon, with officials announcing at the time they were searching for a "possible drowning victim." But they soon announced it had turned into a recovery mission.
"The search for Naya Rivera will continue this morning at Lake Piru," the Ventura County Sheriff tweeted at 5:45 a.m. local time. "The lake will be closed to the public while search operations continue. Dive teams from throughout the region will be assisting us through mutual aid."
Lake Piru is about 56 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
Rivera -- who played Santana, a cheerleader, on "Glee" -- reportedly rented a boat at the Lake Piru reservoir. Her 4-year-old son, Josey, was found on the boat wearing a life vest. Her ID was also found on the boat.
The Sheriff first tweeted about a missing person, without naming her, at 6:30 p.m, local time on Wednesday, writing, "Happening now: Search for possible drowning victim at Lake Piru."
Then, more than four hours later, at 10:39 p.m., the Sheriff revealed the identity of the individual, "The missing person at Lake Piru has been identified as Naya Rivera, 33, of Los Angeles. SAR operation will continue at first light."
