Ryan Dorsey received a life-changing call on July 8, 2020, informing him that his ex-wife, actress Naya Rivera, had gone missing during a boat outing on Southern California's Lake Piru. At the time of her disappearance, Naya Rivera was accompanied by their four-year-old son, Josey. The personnel at the dock discovered Josey sleeping on the boat, wearing a life jacket, after Naya Rivera failed to return the vessel. The frantic search for Rivera's body lasted five days, culminating in its discovery on July 13, 2020.
In an interview with People, Ryan Dorsey described those five days as "five days of just more stress that you can’t even imagine." He expressed the profound sense of panic he felt upon receiving the call about Rivera's disappearance:
"You just immediately go into panic mode and you know you have to get in the car and get your son" – Ryan Dorsey
Dorsey rushed to be with his son, grappling with the terrifying implications of what had happened. He is grateful that Josey retains memories of his mother, despite the tragedy that unfolded.
Reflecting on the incident, Dorsey pondered what might have been if he had joined Rivera and Josey on the boat that day. He shared his thoughts:
"I would have probably done the same thing. We would’ve all jumped in. Part of me thinks I would've been able to save the day" – Ryan Dorsey
Yet he also acknowledged the possibility of a different outcome:
"Part of me thinks that maybe we both, if something crazy happened with undercurrents, I don't know, maybe we both wouldn’t have made it out. And then Josey doesn't have two parents" – Ryan Dorsey
The experience remains surreal for him:
"It was very surreal, it didn’t make sense" – Ryan Dorsey
As time passes, Dorsey finds solace in remembering their better times:
"As the time goes by, I'm often alone and sit and think. I think more of our better times, Like this picture from the past, but it still f
