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Naomi Irion Is Found Dead In Remote 'Gravesite,' More Than Two Weeks After She Disappeared
Naomi Irion disappeared from a Walmart parking lot after a hooded figure was seen on surveillance footage entering her car and driving off. A suspect, Troy Driver, remains in custody in the case.
Naomi Irion’s body has been discovered in a remote Nevada “gravesite,” more than two weeks after the 18-year-old was abducted from a Walmart parking lot.
Irion’s body was discovered Tuesday in a “remote part” of Churchill County after investigators received a tip directing them to the area, according to a joint statement from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators discovered what appeared to be a “possible gravesite” and located the body of an adult female. The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office later positively identified the remains and Irion’s family was notified of the devastating development in the case.
“We would like to extend our sympathy and condolences to the Irion family and thank all the volunteers for their hard work in trying to find Naomi and bring closure to the family,” authorities said.
The discovery comes just days after 41-year-old Troy Driver was taken into custody in connection with Naomi’s abduction.
Although few details have been released in the case, a criminal complaint obtained by Oxygen.com alleges that Driver “did abduct Naomi Irion and did hold or detain her for the purpose of committing sexual assault and/or for the purpose of killing her.”
Irion disappeared just before 5:30 a.m. on the morning of March 12 after she had driven to a Walmart parking lot to wait for a shuttle to her job at a Panasonic plant.
Lyon County Sheriff’s Detective Erik Kusmerz said at an earlier press conference that Irion was active on social media from 5:09 a.m. to 5:23 a.m. before surveillance footage showed a man, wearing a hooded jacket, forcing his way into the car at 5:24 a.m. and driving out of the parking lot a minute later, according to CNN.
Her blue 1992 Mercury Sable was found abandoned next to the Sherman Williams Western Emulsion Plant, not far from the Walmart, three days later, according to the FBI. Authorities said at the time that they had discovered evidence inside the vehicle that made them believe her disappearance had been criminal in nature.
Irion had moved to Nevada in August to live with her older brother, Casey Valley. Her father had worked for the U.S. State Department in the foreign service, but after her kidnapping, her parents traveled from South Africa to help in the search.
After Irion’s body was discovered, her sister wrote on Twitter that it was “the worst day of my life” and posted a smiling photo of the pair with the caption “Love you forever.”
Driver spent more than a decade behind bars in California after being convicted of covering up the murder of a methamphetamine dealer, along with other robbery-related charges, according to KRNV.
Driver had reportedly helped stuff the man’s body into a car and later dump it in a rural area.
He appeared in court Wednesday on the latest kidnapping charge against him as Irion’s family looked on, CNN reports.
Judge Lori Matheus outlined conditions for his previously set bond of $750,000. According to Matheus, if Driver is able to post bond, he will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device, have no contact with Irion’s family and be under enhanced supervision.
He is currently in custody at the Lyon County Detention Facility.
