Sahara Ray is scheduled to be cremated on November 10, according to her death certificate, which TMZ obtained and reported on November 3. The Australian model and swimwear designer was 34.
The document records her death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on October 18. It lists the Los Angeles home of her mother, Gretchen Gia Bach, as the place of final disposition.
Her family announced the news the following day, saying relatives had been with her at the hospital. “She was so loved,” they told the outlet in their statement.
An autopsy was completed in October, and her remains were released to her family later that month. Her official cause of death is listed as deferred while the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner awaits toxicology results.
Cremation Can Proceed Before Final Medical Findings
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner explains in its guidance for families that burial or cremation can take place after an examination even when the cause and manner of death are still pending. A deferred determination can involve further laboratory testing or a review of medical records and other evidence.
During an examination, medical examiners may retain fluid or tissue samples for additional testing. The department cautions that reaching a final determination can take days to several months, depending on the circumstances.
Ray had previously spoken about a Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosis in 2024. In videos documented by 7NEWS, she said she could not walk and was using a wheelchair and walker. She described developing symptoms after a serious car accident. No medical finding has been announced connecting that condition to her death.
Ruby Ray Shared Childhood Photos and a Tribute to Her Sister
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Ruby Ray posted photographs of the sisters from childhood and later years on October 19. In the accompanying message, quoted by Us Weekly, she remembered looking up to her older sister from the beginning of her life and described her intelligence, humor and empathy.
Ruby also wrote about the difficulty of watching the world continue around her while she struggled with her loss. “I want more time. More laughter. More conversations. More of her,” she wrote.
Their mother shared her own grief on Instagram Stories on October 21. As Entertainment Weekly documented, Bach posted a photograph of herself wearing Sahara’s clothes while reading and reposting messages about her daughter late at night.
Musician Mod Sun, who dated Ray in 2023, posted a tribute on October 21 alongside a video of her holding a monarch butterfly. In the message, covered by Page Six, he recalled their shared birthday and wrote, “When I was with her it was the most free I ever felt.”
Ray’s Final Instagram Post Featured Her Daughter Snow
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Ray welcomed Snow in January 2026 after announcing her pregnancy the previous August. She shared a video of herself with her daughter on Instagram in April, as PEOPLE documented. Her last grid post followed in July, featuring photographs of the baby and the words “My whole heart.”
The daughter of professional surfer Tony Ray, she had grown up traveling with her father. In a 2015 interview with GQ, she said she was born in Australia, raised primarily in Santa Cruz, California, and spent three months each winter on Hawaii’s North Shore while he competed. She later pursued modeling and established Sahara Ray Swim.
Bach also reshared a request for friends to send photographs, stories and letters about Sahara for Snow, so her granddaughter could learn about her mother as she grows up.