Sophie Nyweide Investigation: Actress Was Pregnant When She Died

A cause of death has not been determined as Sophie’s family awaits autopsy results and a toxicology report. However, Shelly has expressed her belief that drugs may have played a role in the devastating incident.

"My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman,” Shelly continued. “She was with other people when she died. I didn't know them.”

As a child, Sophie acted in a handful of films including Mammoth, Noah and An Invisible Sign alongside actors such as Michelle Williams, Jessica Alba and Russel Crowe.

“Creative, athletic and wise beyond her years, Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth,” the young actress’ obituary read. “Literally—she danced as she moved!”

Though her mother was an actress, Sophie’s family recounted that her love for the arts came from within herself, demanding to pursue theatrics “with an ease we all marveled about.”

But beyond the comfort of a movie set, where she “seemed happiest” and had the freedom of “becoming someone else,” Sophie also faced her fair share of “struggles and traumas.”

And despite the multiple diagnoses and revelations she received throughout her mental health journey, the tribute stated that she “self-medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death.”

“She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own,” the obituary continued, adding that her kind and trusting nature often made it easy for others to take advantage of her, “and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life.”

To look back at Sophie’s career, keep reading.