Milania Giudice’s childhood friend Victoria Zardoya’s tragic death continues to raise new questions as authorities await the completion of her autopsy.
Days after the 20-year-old University of Tampa student died from catastrophic injuries sustained in a fall while exploring historic ruins in Florida, officials revealed an unexpected reason for the delay.
The latest update comes as investigators continue documenting the circumstances surrounding the accident that claimed the young student’s life.
As investigators continue documenting the fatal incident, one important step in the case has yet to be completed.
A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department told The U.S. Sun that Zardoya’s autopsy remains pending because she was an organ donor.
“The autopsy, as far as I can tell, has not been done yet, because she is an organ donor,” the spokesperson explained.
The update follows the fatal accident at Egmont Key, where Milania Giudace’s friend suffered catastrophic injuries after falling from one of the island’s historic structures.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the Marine Unit responded after receiving reports of the fall on July 24 before she was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She died three days later, on July 27.
Milania’s Friend Recalled Victoria Zardoya’s Final Moments
Amid the tragedy, one of the people who was with Milania Giudace’s friend when the accident unfolded shared an emotional firsthand account of the incident.
Posting a lengthy statement on Instagram at the request of Zardoya’s family, Victoria Silberbusch explained that what began as “a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends” ended in an “unimaginable and unexpected” tragedy as the group prepared to leave Fort Dade on Egmont Key.
Silberbusch said they initially believed Zardoya had fallen only one level, but quickly realized “she had fallen much farther than we first believed.”
As some friends climbed down to reach her, others called 911 while people on nearby boats launched flares to help first responders find them. “No one hesitated,” Silberbusch wrote.
She added that everyone did everything possible to help as they stayed beside Zardoya, trying to comfort her until paramedics arrived by boat and she was eventually airlifted to a hospital.
Reflecting on the devastating ordeal, Silberbusch said, “Victoria was never alone,” adding that she hoped sharing her account would provide some comfort to everyone mourning the 20-year-old’s death.
Milania Giudice Shared Emotional Memories Of Her Childhood Friend
As those closest to Zardoya continue sharing memories of her final moments, Milania has been remembering the life they shared long before tragedy struck.
The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star honored her childhood best friend with a series of emotional social media posts filled with throwback photos documenting their years together.
One included a sweet snapshot of the pair wearing matching “BFF” temporary tattoos as children.
Rather than writing a lengthy personal statement, Milania let the images, and the grief she reshared from others, tell the story.
On TikTok, she posted a clip of the pair lip-syncing to Rae Sremmurd’s “Swang” while spending time together on a boat. Milania later shared a clip of her and Zardoya doing a “fit check,” calling her “my best friend my sister my world” in a caption.
The heartfelt tributes showed the lifelong bond between the two friends, while members of the Giudice family, including Teresa, Joe, Gia, and Audriana Giudace, also paid tribute to Victoria, describing her as someone who had become part of their family.
Milania Faced Personal Challenges Even Before Zardoya’s Death
Zardoya’s death came during what had already been a difficult period for Milania Giudice.
Weeks before mourning the loss of her childhood best friend, the reality TV star found herself making headlines after she was arrested in connection with a domestic dispute in Montville, New Jersey.
According to a report from Us Weekly, police revealed the incident occurred on May 14 after officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a residence.
Following an investigation, Milania was charged on a summons complaint with one count of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense under New Jersey law.
Court records indicated the matter was classified as a domestic violence case, though authorities have not publicly identified the alleged victim or released additional details because of the confidential nature of the proceedings.
Milania Giudice Reflected On The Arrest With A Candid Message
Weeks after news of her arrest surfaced, the 20-year-old took to TikTok to respond directly to the headlines, acknowledging the incident while insisting there was more to her story than what had been reported.
As The Blast reported, she first laughed off rumors that a widely circulated mugshot had been created using artificial intelligence, joking, “I ate down in my mugshot. I looked fire. I mean, nothing to be proud of.”
Shifting to a more serious tone, Milania admitted she “was not in a good area” of her life when the incident occurred, adding, “Sh-t happens in life… you gotta learn from it, just become a better person and talk about it.”
She also reminded followers that the public didn’t know everything she had been through, saying, “Just because you guys think you know everything that happens in my life, you really don’t,” while encouraging people not to judge others based on a single moment in their lives.
