On July 8, California's Ventura County Sheriff's Department revealed that "Glee" actress Naya Rivera had gone missing that afternoon after renting a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son — who was found asleep on the watercraft and is safe. That night, they confirmed they'd suspended their search for the actress on Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest until the morning.
After the troubling news broke, many of Naya's former co-stars and friends took to social media to ask for prayers and share their heartbreak. Early on July 9, TMZ reported that authorities believe Naya, 33 — whose son with ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, Josey, told police his mom jumped in the water and didn't come back up — is dead.
Heather Morris, who played the wife of Naya's character Santana Lopez on "Glee," took to her Instagram Story to write, "We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us. We need your love and light."
"Glee" co-star Harry Shum Jr. wrote the word "Praying" on Twitter, while "Glee" guest star Demi Lovato — who briefly played a love interest for Naya's character on the hit FOX show — posted a pic of a lit candle on her Instagram Stories along with the message, "Please pray for @nayarivera to be found safe and sound."
Actor Iqbal Theba — who played Principal Figgins on "Glee" — shared a news story about Naya possibly drowning and weighed in, "Oh God… mercy… please…"
Actress Jackée Harry also took to social media to ask for prayers. "Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera," she wrote, explaining, "We starred alongside one another in her first very television series, The Royal Family, and I've watched her career blossom ever since. Please God, don't cut this life short."
Naya's former fiancé, music star Big Sean – they ended their engagement in 2014, and Naya went on to marry and divorce Ryan — liked several tweets from fans who were concerned about the actress and praying for her to be found alive.
Meanwhile former "The Real Housewives of New York City" star Bethenny Frankel, who didn't know Naya, publicly shared that she was distraught upon reading the news. "The story about @NayaRivera is the most horrifying thing I have read about in a while. My heart goes out to her family. What a terrible trauma…." Bethenny tweeted.