On July 9, 33-year-old Naya Rivera (Glee, Step Up) went missing after visiting Lake Piru in Ventura County, California with her son. On Wednesday afternoon, the duo rented a boat and set off into the water until three hours later when a fellow boater found the 4-year-old child alone yet unharmed on the boat. The child told police that him and his mother were swimming but she never returned to the boat. It wasn’t until Wednesday night that the Ventura Sheriff’s department instigated their investigation of Rivera’s possible drowning.

On Thursday afternoon, the day after Rivera’s presumed drowning, the search and rescue operation became a recovery effort when Deputy Chris Dyer gave a statement, stating that “We’re presuming that an accident happened and we’re presuming she drowned in the lake. The goal is to still bring Miss Rivera home to her family,” via Deadline. At this time, over 100 volunteers from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, and dive teams from LA and surrounding counties were looking for Rivera. Divers are said to have had less than one foot visibility in the water, according to Deadline. A Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said in a statement that, “In that area, there’s a lot of tress and plants and such that are under the water that can cause entanglements. It makes it unsafe for the divers and makes it a more complicated search,” via Deadline. 

Moreover, on Friday afternoon only 40 volunteers were seen in the search for Rivera. Because of the low visibility in the water, rescuers attempted to use technology and special dogs to complete the search. Another Sheriff’s Department spokesperson gave a statement saying that, “We’re not putting divers in the water at the same rate. We’re using sonar to identify things and then sending divers down to investigate. With the technology we can search larger areas more efficiently,” via Deadline. 

The following Sunday afternoon, Ventura County’s Sheriff Department provided an update on the recovery process following Rivera’s disappearance, according to Deadline. Authorities have assured that their search for the actress includes buildings in the surrounding areas of Lake Piru and that it will continue throughout the week.

In today’s search for Naya Rivera, cabins and outbuildings in the surrounding area will be checked once again, as well as the shoreline. This has been part of the ongoing search effort since her disappearance on Wednesday afternoon. Boat crews continue to scan the lake.

— Ventura Co. Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 12, 2020

Authorities have also urged civilians to not search for the Glee star themselves, due to the closure of the lake and the recent rise in temperature in Southern California.

For those intent on searching for Naya Rivera on your own, 1. The lake is closed. 2. Temps are already in the 90’s. 3. The terrain around the lake is very steep and rugged. Our teams are well equipped and highly trained. We don’t want to have to rescue you.

— Ventura Co. Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 12, 2020

Since the initial discovery of Rivera’s disappearance, several of her fellow Glee stars have taken to social media to express their gratitude for the law enforcement officers taking on this case and to share prayers that their friend will be safe back home soon.

love and hug on the people you can, while you can. I love you. Everyone please send out your prayers.

— Chord Overstreet (@chordoverstreet) July 9, 2020

Thank you to the Tulare County, Los Angeles County, San Louis Obisbo, and all who are working to tirelessly right now in the search and recovery of our Naya

— heather (@HeatherMorrisTV) July 9, 2020

Five days into the search for Rivera and the mystery remains unsolved. On July 9, the day Rivera went missing, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office released the security camera footage from the day she went missing. This is the last footage of Rivera alive. It can be watched below.