The family narrative focuses on love and loss, with sister Ruby calling Sahara the 'most vivacious, intelligent, hilarious' soul and mother Gretchen sharing heartfelt tributes.
Insiders and close friends like Jessica Serfaty are revealing Sahara faced significant mental health challenges, with a 'circle of support' formed to help her, yet the cause of death remains officially undetermined.
Death certificate confirms cremation on Nov 10 at mother's LA residence. Died Oct 18 at Cedars-Sinai. LA County Medical Examiner awaiting toxicology results. Body released Oct 27.
A heartbreaking loss for the fashion and music scenes, with official answers still pending while loved ones grieve publicly.
The model and influencer Sahara Ray is set to be cremated on November 10, according to a death certificate obtained by Page Six. The document confirms she passed away on October 18 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. While the family has begun the grieving process, the official cause of death has yet to be revealed, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examinerโs Office still awaiting toxicology results.
This leaves the public and fans in a state of suspense regarding the specific circumstances of her untimely death at age 34. Early reports from TMZ and the Daily Mail suggested a suspected fentanyl overdose, noting that Ray was placed on life support before the family made the difficult decision to remove her from it. However, the lack of an official cause of death in the documents obtained by Page Six highlights that the medical investigation is still active.
Rayโs body was released to family members late in October, specifically on October 27, allowing them to begin planning the final disposition at her motherโs Los Angeles residence. Friends and family are using social media to share their grief and memories. Jessica Serfaty, a close friend and 'Days of Our Lives' alum, exclusively told Page Six that Ray faced mental health challenges prior to her death.
Serfaty revealed that she and Rayโs mother, Gretchen Gia Bach, 'came together on several occasions to figure out how best to support Sahara,' creating a 'circle of love, stability, and support' when she needed it most. Serfaty noted that while they wanted to see her happy and at peace, there wasnโt an 'easy answer' on how to help her. Rayโs younger sister, Ruby Ray, also posted a heartfelt tribute, describing Sahara as the 'most vivacious, intelligent, hilarious, kind, empathetic and breathtakingly beautiful soul.' Ruby lamented the difficulty of making sense of a world that keeps turning when hers felt like it had stopped.
Meanwhile, musician Mod Sun, who dated Ray in 2023, remembered her on Instagram as 'pure magic' and 'a true love of mine,' stating she could 'turn any moment into art.' Sahara Ray was the daughter of surf legend Tony Ray and had previously dated Justin Bieber. She recently welcomed an infant daughter, Snow, in January with Michael Bradley Dow. As the toxicology results remain pending, the fashion and entertainment communities are left mourning a vibrant life cut short, with the final chapter of her story yet to be fully written in the official medical records.
