Lea Michele On Cory Monteith’s Death: ‘Inconsolable’ & ‘Devastated’

Katrina Mitzeliotis

July 14, 2013 4:33PM EDT

Sadly Cory Monteith passed away on July 13 in a Vancouver hotel room. He was 31. His devoted girlfriend, Lea, wasn’t with him at the time of his death. A source close to the actor tells HollywoodLife exclusively that she is ‘devastated’ beyond belief.

Lea Michele, 26, and Cory Monteith began dating in early 2012 and were together for a year and a half. The Glee songstress was clearly not expecting to receive the tragic news about the one she loves.

Cory Monteith’s Death — Lea Michele’s Reaction:

“She [Lea Michele] is absolutely hysterical and completely inconsolable,” a source close to the actor tells HollywoodLife exclusively. She is devastated beyond belief.”

Lea, who was in Mexico during Cory’s passing, “was shaking when she heard the news,” a source tells New York Daily News.

At this time the cause of the actor’s death is yet to be determined and no foul play is suspected, however Cory was always very open about his struggle with substance abuse and began his second stint in rehab in March 2013 — and his devoted girlfriend bravely stood by his side during the difficult time, saying, “I love and support Cory and will stand by him through this,” she told PEOPLE. “I am grateful and proud he made this decision.”

It’s clear that one of the people he was closest to, his loving girlfriend, had no idea that he might still be struggling with this addiction. In fact just last week Lea took a quick girls trip to Cabo San Lucas, to celebrate the birthday of her friend and jewelry designer Jennifer Cohen. The Glee gal seemed so happy and carefree while having fun in the sun, snapping pics of her pedicure and sharing a slew of bikini pics on Instagram.

How Lea Michele Stood By Cory Monteith:

Cory returned from his March 2013 trip to rehab at the end of April — and he rushed right back to Lea. The star was so supportive of Cory, accompanying him to Victoria, British Columbia on April 26, where the couple enjoyed a relaxing vacation in his hometown right after his stint in rehab. The pair was spotted at a slew of local restaurants, including a coffee shop, where they were seen with Cory’s mom, Ann.

Lea was always extremely vocal about her strong feelings for Cory. “No one knows me better than Cory,” she told Marie Clare in an interview in January. “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.”

“For the first time in my life, I feel really, really settled and happy,” Lea said. “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Lea was so in love with Cory and stuck by him during such a difficult time because she was confident in their future together — and she couldn’t wait to start a family with the 31-year-old actor. Back in April, a source told HollywoodLife, “Not only does Lea want Cory to get better for his personal well being, she also wants to get pregnant and she thinks that Cory is the one and would be a wonderful father — and the sooner he is better, the sooner they can start a family!”

Cory Monteith’s Substance Abuse Struggle:

The actor’s most recent stint in rehab was mere months ago. His rep released a statement confirming his treatment, saying, “Cory Monteith has voluntarily admitted himself into a treatment facility for substance addiction. He graciously asks for your respect and privacy as he takes the necessary steps towards recovery.”

That wasn’t the first time Cory went for treatment — he first checked in for his addiction when he was 19. In an interview with Parade magazine back in 2011, he candidly addressed his struggles with substance abuse, saying he often stole money to be able to afford his addiction. “I was out of control,” Cory said. “[I used] anything and everything, as much as possible. I had a serious problem.”

Cory’s mother staged an intervention in order to help her teen get clean. “That’s when I first went to rehab,” he said — but his sobriety didn’t last long. “I did the stint but then went back to doing exactly what I left off doing.”

Eventually the actor made the decision to get clean — and he said it was a life-changing decision. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he admitted.

The actor was raised in Victoria, B.C., which isn’t far from Vancouver, where his body was discovered.

Our thoughts are with Lea and Cory’s friends and family during this sad time. The news is just heartbreaking.

WATCH: Lea Michele Inconsolable After Cory Monteith’s Death

Katrina Mitzeliotis, Reporting By Russ Weakland

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