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'Devastated' Lea Michele releases statement after tragic death of boyfriend Cory Monteith... as his autopsy is fast tracked due to 'intense public interest'

• Michele, 26, dated her 31-year-old co-star for the past two years
• Released a statement through her spokesperson asking for privacy following Monteith's tragic death on Saturday
• Results of the actor's autopsy expected to be released in the next 'two or three days'
• Cory's stepmother Yvette Monteith pays tribute to 'beautiful young man'

By Eleanor Gower
PUBLISHED: 16:33 GMT, 14 July 2013 | UPDATED: 20:23 GMT, 15 July 2013

Devastated: Lea Michele, pictured on July 1, has
released a statement requesting privacy after Cory
Monteith's death

Devastated Lea Michele has released a statement following the tragic death of her boyfriend Cory Monteith.

Lea's 31-year-old Glee co-star and long-term boyfriend was found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver, Canada on Saturday.

A representative for the actress told People: 'We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time.'

Cory had been in his luxury hotel room with friends on Friday evening before heading out for the night. Lea, 26, is believed to have been at home in Los Angeles for work.

'She is absolutely hysterical and completely inconsolable,' a source told HollywoodLife.com. 'She is devastated beyond belief.'

A friend of the star was spotted leaving Lea's  Los Angeles home on Sunday morning to meet another friend with what appeared to be an overnight bag.

Nocause of death has been confirmed at this point but there was said to be no implications of foul play. Medical examiners will conduct an autopsy on Monday and the results of the procedure are expected to be revealed early this week.

Despite the process usually taking longer, a source from the Vancouver Police Dept told E! Online that Cory's autopsy has been fast tracked 'due to intense public interest'.

The source added that the results of the autopsy and toxicology tests are expected to be revealed in 'two or three days' time'.

Cory - who completed a stint of rehab in April for substance addiction - was last pictured with Lea just last month.

Authoritiesrefused to say if there was any connection between Cory's voluntary stint in rehab and his untimely death, the Toronto Star reported.

Meanwhile, Cory's stepmother Yvette Monteith, who lives in New Brunswick on Canada's East Coast, paid tribute to her famous stepson.

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Two year romance: Lea Michele and Cory Monteith were last pictured at a public event together at the 12th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 8.  The actress has asked for privacy

Sad scene: Police pictured on Sunday morning outside the hotel in Vancouver where Cory Monteith was found dead

Yvette, who is married to Cory's father Joe, told Celebuzz: 'He was a beautiful young man. He was loved by everybody.

'He was very talented and put himself in the spotlight because that's where he always wanted to be and that is what he was always interested in. He made everybody smile. That was Cory.'

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More...

• Cory Monteith's sobbing cousin leads fan tributes for tragic star as final photo of 31-year-old actor is revealed
• The last hours of Cory Monteith: 'Happy and healthy' Glee star, 31, spent evening out with friends before dying alone in Vancouver hotel room
• 'I'm gutted. Shocked and saddened to hear the news': Celebrities mourn Glee star Cory Monteith with shocked condolence tweets
• Cory Monteith dies at 31: Troubled Glee actor is found dead in a hotel room in Vancouver months after leaving rehab

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Also paying tribute was his cousin Richard Monteith, who lay white flowers outside the hotel where the actor died.

He was visibly emotional, but said little as he stood outside the hotel, but told reporters he was 'decently close' with his cousin and he had last seen him in April, when Cory brought Lea home to Vancouver to visit the family.

Devastated: Cory's cousin Richard Monteith laid flowers outside the hotel on Sunday evening

Final photo? This is believed to be the last shot of Cory Monteith, taken the day before he tragically passed away

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Lea and Cory are thought to have dated for around two years, with the actress and singer discussing her feelings for her co-star in an interview in Marie Claire magazine earlier this year.

'I don't even remember a time when he wasn't my boyfriend. No one knows me better than Cory,' Lea told the January issue of the magazine.

'No one knows what it's been like to go through this more than he does. Feeling like you have that net underneath you allows you to jump higher and go farther. He makes me feel like I can do anything.

'Forthe first time in my life, I feel really, really settled and happy. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.'

Show of support: A friend left Lea's house to met another friend to collect a bag on Sunday

Car remains: A vehicle reported to be Cory's Range Rover is still parked outside Lea Michele's Los Angeles house

Lea added in another interview in January 2012: 'Cory and I say we’re like a two-for-one deal. I wouldn’t be here without him.'

Cory is said to have spent his last hours enjoying an evening out with friends before he tragically passed away of unknown causes while alone in a hotel room.

Authorities also declined to comment on the contents of the room.

Sadness: Fans, friends and family lay flowers outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel

The 31-year-old - who is said to have been 'happy and healthy' in recent months - was out in Vancouver before returning alone to his Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in the city.

It is believed that the actor had been dead for several hours in his room before his body was found.

Cory, who checked into the hotel on July 6th, had been due to check out of the luxury hotel on Saturday but when he failed to do so, cleaning staff went to his room where they found his body.

Paramedics were called who declared him dead at the scene shortly after noon. Police said there were no signs of foul play and said that he had died alone.

Happy together: Lea and Cory pictured holding hands at LAX on June 20 - the last time they were pictured together

The last tweets: Cory had taken to his Twitter account the day before his death, tweeting humorously about TV movie Sharknado

Video footage has revealed the actor returning to his room by himself in the early hours of Saturday morning after an evening out with friends.

He wrote on his Twitter account last week that he was listening to the upbeat song Paris by Friendly Fires 'basically on repeat.'

Recent pictures of the star showed him looking in good spirits as he and Lea jetted into LAX in California back on June 20.

Cory last tweeted on Friday, joking around about the new sci-fi film Sharknado. He wrote: 'What the c**p is Sharknado... Oh. IT'S A SHARK TORNADO.'

Real life romance: Lea and Cory stared as Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson on TV show Glee

The actor, who played the character Finn Hudson in the popular Fox show, had spoken publicly about his battle with addiction.

He had previously received treatment aged 19 and told Parade magazine in 2011 that he took 'Anything and everything, as much as possible. I had a serious problem'.

Cory, older brother Shaun and their mother Ann McGregor moved from Calgary, Alberta - where he was born - to Victoria, British Columbia, (60 miles away from Vancouver) when he was seven following her divorce from their father Joe.

In 2009, Cory reunited with his father Joe for the first time in 17 years.

In an interview two years ago, Cory said: 'We’d spoken maybe three or four times [during that period] and he reached out to me on Facebook. I couldn’t shut the door, so I got on a plane.

'He greeted me at the airport, and (he and stepmother Yvette) were so happy they were almost crying. It was a good time.'

Tribute: Harry Shum Jr and who plays Mike Chang on Glee, and Dot-Marie Jones, who plays Shannon Beiste, were two of the few of Cory's co-stars to tweet after his death

News of his death prompted a slew of heartfelt tributes from his Glee co-stars and TV, film and music stars on Twitter.

His co-star Mark Salling was one of the first to respond to the news, simply tweeting the word 'No.'

The rest of Cory's Glee colleagues largely stayed silent after the tragic news, but Harry Shum Jr and Dot Marie Jones who play Mike Chang and Shannon Beiste on the show were among the few to tweet their condolences.

'At this time, please send nothing but love and light,' wrote Harry. 'This tragic news still doesn't feel real to me.'

'Iam blessed to have worked with him and love him so much!' tweeted Dot-Marie. 'My heart is with his family and our whole Glee family! I love you all!

Glad I knew you Cory: John posted a picture of himself and the Glee star in what appeared to be a break from filming the show.

'I have no words! My heart is broken. Cory was not only a hell of a friend, he was one amazing man that I will hold close to my heart forever.'

John Stamos, who appeared in a few episodes of Glee in 2010-2011, added to the slew of tributes, posting up a photograph of himself with the star. 

'First day on Glee he said to me, I can't believe I'm working w/Uncle Jesse - I can't believe I'm writing this tweet,' John wrote. 'Heartbreaking. R.I.P. Cory.

'We talked about how lucky he felt to be alive and sober. We talked about playing drums. Glad I knew you Cory.'

Adam Shankman, who has directed Cory on Glee, tweeted: Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. The lights in my world just grew dimmer. The world just lost one of ourbest. I love u so much. I will always cherish you in my heart. Thank you for so many wonderful memories. I love you CM.'

Kristin Chenoweth, who guest starred as April Rhodes in the TV show added to the words of condolence: 'RIP Corey Monteith. You Will be loved. Always.'

Demi Lovato, Kim Kardashian, Ellen DeGeneres, Selena Gomez and Chloe Moretz were among the other celebrities tweeting their condolences.

The hashtags #prayforLea and ##RipCoryMonteith were both trending on Twitter on Sunday.

A statement from Fox - who produced Glee - went out on Twitter shortly after the death was announced: ''We are deeply saddened by this tragic news.Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person.

'He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.'

SHARING THEIR GRIEF: STARS REACT TO MONTEITH'S DEATH ON TWITTER

Julianne Hough:'One of the kindest people I've ever met! My heart breaks for Cory's family and loved ones... You will be missed and forever loved Cory!' Olivia Munn: 'Shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Cory Monteith. All my love to his family, friends & girlfriend. #TooSoon' Kaley Cuoco: 'Please tell me it’s not true… #CoryMonteith no words. Prayers. Thoughts w his family. This is terrible. Can’t speak.' Nina Dobrev: 'I’m gutted. Shocked and saddened to hear the news, my heart goes out to Cory’s family and friends. Lets respect their space as they grieve.' Chloe Moretz: 'I just heard about Cory Monteith.. Rest in peace, everyone close to him and affected by this loss you’re in my prayers.' Jaime King: '#CoryMonteith a loss of words. May you rest in Peace. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.' Katharine McPhee: 'omg. Met this sweet man. RIP.' Kim Kardashian: 'Just heard about the death of Cory Monteith. So sad. Prayers 4 his family. Praying 4 Lea too! Words cant describe what they must be feeling.' Mario Lopez: 'RIP Cory Montieth… Such a nice guy, very down to earth. Incredibly sad….' Joel McHale: 'Way too soon. A very nice & good guy.' Patrick Wilson: 'And in other news… RIP Cory Monteith. Awful. My heart goes out to his family and friends.' Ian Ziering: '@CoryMonteith you have touched us all, and we will miss you. God bless you and your family.' Lance Bass: 'Devastated about the news of Cory Monteith - such an incredible guy - my thoughts are with his family and friends' Jamie Bell: 'Saddened to hear the news on Cory. I hope it isn’t true.' Rumer Willis: 'I am truly saddened to hear about Cory Monteith. What a talented and sweet guy. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones.' Teresa Palmer: 'God I am so incredibly saddened by the death of Cory Monteith, completely shocked. My prayers goes out to all those who loved him.' Lacey Chabert: 'So incredibly sad.' Debby Ryan: 'RIP Cory Monteith. ): So young. Praying for those closest to him.' Glee star Dot-Marie Jones: 'Iam blessed to have worked with him and love him so much!' tweeted Dot Marie. 'My heart is with his family and our whole Glee family! I love you all! Glee star Harry Shum Jr: 'At this time, please send nothing but love and light,' wrote Harry. 'This tragic news still doesn't feel real to me.' Ryan Guzman: 'Rip Cory Monteith. Sad to see another young person go because of addiction. Blessings go out to his family and friends.' Tracie Thoms: 'I hope that was a twitter hoax. Please let it be a twitter hoax. I’ll never retract a tweet more happily… Not a hoax. My thoughts are with hisfamily & the #Glee family. Had the pleasure of meeting him last year in Philly on our film McCanick.' American Idol’s Devin Velez: 'RIP Cory Monteith. We loved you on Glee. My heart goes out to the co-stars, and family. #finn' Photographer Tyler Shields: 'Wow I am speechless about Cory Monteith such a sweet and amazing guy to young to amazing we always talked about shooting so sad!'