Sahara Ray’s remains have been returned to her family after the model and social media personality died suddenly at 34 earlier this month.
Ray, who was once romantically linked to pop star Justin Bieber, was reportedly placed on life support at a Los Angeles-area hospital after a fentanyl overdose on October 16, according to a source who spoke to Our News Outlet.
Her loved ones were said to have gathered around her before deciding two days later to withdraw life support.
The latest update in the tragic case comes from TMZ, which reported Tuesday that Ray’s autopsy has been completed and her body has now been released to her family.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet confirmed a formal cause of death, with toxicology testing still pending, the outlet reported.
Our News Outlet has contacted the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office for additional comment.
Sahara Ray’s remains have been released to her family after her sudden death at age 34 earlier this month
Ray’s mother, real estate agent Gretchen Bach, remembered her daughter as “an incredibly passionate and kind young woman” who adored her family, fashion, her daughter Snow and surfing.
Bach also said the family has been deeply moved by the support coming from Ray’s close friends, fans and the international communities she touched.
Mod Sun, who previously dated Sahara Ray, described her as “pure magic” in an emotional Instagram tribute posted on October 21.
“She was my inspiration before, during, + long after we dated,” he wrote. “She was a true love of mine. She just saw life differently. I really do think she was just too special for this world.”
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He continued: “No amount of words could ever do justice to how pure you were. Life will never be the same without your energy.”
The daughter of surfer Tony Ray, Sahara first drew widespread attention after being linked to Bieber in 2016. She later built a career as a model and online creator, gaining more than 905,000 Instagram followers.
After studying at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), Ray went on to run her own swimwear label, Sahara Ray Swim.
More than two years ago, Ray also opened up about being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome after a drunk driver hit her in an April 2024 car crash.
Ray, who was once linked to pop star Justin Bieber, was reportedly placed on life support at a Los Angeles-area hospital after a fentanyl overdose on October 16, according to a source who spoke to Our News Outlet; seen in 2017
Her relatives were said to have surrounded her before making the decision to withdraw life support two days later; seen in 2015
“My whole life changed in an instant,” she said in a social media post, explaining that she had experienced partial paralysis from her thighs down to her feet and needed a wheelchair and walker.
Ray said the crash’s lasting effects sent her body “into shock,” triggering what she called “this crazy sickness.”
“I got really really sick for like a week-and-a-half to two weeks,” she recalled. “During that time I barely ate any food because I couldn’t keep it down and my body got really weak.”
Ray said she had to be transported to an emergency room after dealing with tingling and numbness in her feet and legs.
‘This has been really hard to deal with,’ she said, ‘and I’ve been trying to keep a good attitude and be hopeful that my feeling comes back.’
