Why Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death Has Been Ruled ‘Undetermined’

Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause and manner of death are undetermined after the late “Gossip Girl” star’s family rejected an autopsy, according to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Her family reportedly objected to the autopsy for religious reasons, per ABC News. The news comes after Sarah Michelle Gellar mourned her late co-star. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Emmy Award-winning actress paid tribute to her late friend on Instagram, with whom she starred in the hit 1997-2003 series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” writing, “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.” The quote is in reference to a line from the series in which Geller’s character, Buffy Summers, addresses Trachtenberg’s Dawn Summers. The late actress’ “Gossip Girl” castmates, including Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr, also paid tribute to her memory. On Instagram, Lively, who played Serena van der Woodsen in the teen drama series, recalled meeting Trachtenberg, who played Georgina Sparks, on set. “This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%,” the “It Ends with Us” star wrote in part. Trachtenberg’s death was confirmed by the New York Police Department on Wednesday, Feb. 26 after they responded to a 911 call. She was 39.