3:21 am - February 13, 2025
Naya Rivera, a talented actress best known for her role as Santana Lopez on the hit TV show Glee, tragically passed away in July 2020 at the age of 33. Her untimely death occurred while she was swimming with her young son, Josey, in Lake Piru, California. Now, nearly three years after her passing, Naya’s ex-boyfriend and Josey’s father, Ryan Dorsey, has opened up for the first time about the heartbreaking details of that fateful day. Speaking to People magazine, Dorsey shared the emotional and devastating moments surrounding Naya’s final hours, revealing how their son, now nine years old, witnessed her last moments and the profound impact her loss has had on their family.
Dorsey recounted the painful story of how Naya’s life came to an end. He explained that Naya and Josey had been enjoying a day together on the lake when tragedy struck. According to Dorsey, Josey, who was just four years old at the time, told authorities that his mother had helped him onto the boat’s deck after their vessel had drifted away. However, after saving her son, Rivera did not have the strength to save herself and disappeared beneath the water. Dorsey shared that the last thing Naya said was Josey’s name before she slipped under the surface, and their son never saw her again. This heartbreaking detail underscores the selfless love Naya had for her child, as her final moments were dedicated to ensuring Josey’s safety.
Josey, now nine, has recounted the traumatic events of that day, revealing how he struggled to comprehend the loss of his mother. Dorsey shared that his son has often spoken about the moments following Naya’s disappearance, expressing feelings of guilt and confusion. According to Dorsey, Josey has repeatedly mentioned that he was trying to find a life raft to save his mother but was too scared to use a rope because of a spider on it. Dorsey reassured his son that the rope would not have been long enough to save Naya, but the memory of her last moments continues to weigh heavily on Josey. Dorsey admitted that it is devastating to think about Josey having to witness such a traumatic event, saying, “It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.”
The news of Naya’s disappearance sent shockwaves through her family and friends, and Dorsey recalled the moment he learned of her disappearance. He revealed that he was at a supermarket buying food for a friend’s barbecue when he received a call from Naya’s stepfather informing him that she was missing. Dorsey said he collapsed into a pallet of drinks, overcome with fear and grief. He immediately got into his car and drove 145 miles to Lake Piru, desperate to reach Josey and hoping against hope that Naya would be found safe. During the drive, Dorsey was in a state of panic, chain-smoking cigarettes and crying uncontrollably, his only thought being to get to his son. He reflected on the horror of the situation, saying, “If we’d have lost both Naya and Josey, I don’t know how I would continue on with my life.”
In the years since Naya’s passing, Dorsey and Josey have worked to navigate their new reality without her. Dorsey has been open about the challenges of raising their son alone, especially during difficult times like the holidays. He shared that they created a memory book for Josey, filled with photos and mementos of his mother, which sits by his bed. However, the holidays have been particularly tough for Josey, who often cries when looking at the book. Dorsey has tried to comfort his son, explaining that life is not always fair and that bad things can happen without reason. He reassures Josey that the best they can do is to be good people and cherish the memories they have of Naya.
Dorsey’s reflections on Naya’s death and its aftermath highlight the enduring impact of her loss on their family. He described her passing as “surreal,” a feeling that persists to this day. He often finds himself shaking his head in disbelief, struggling to accept that she is truly gone. For Josey, the loss of his mother has left a deep scar, and Dorsey is doing his best to help his son heal while keeping Naya’s memory alive. As they continue to move forward, Dorsey and Josey are learning to find strength in their love for each other and in the memories they shared with Naya, a woman whose absence will always be deeply felt but whose legacy lives on through her son.