Eighteen-year-old Naomi Irion was a vibrant young woman who had lived in various countries due to her father’s diplomatic career. She returned to the U.S. after graduating from the American International School of Johannesburg in 2021. Known for her love of music and her positive spirit, Naomi moved to Fernley, Nevada, to live with her brother, Casey Valley, and began working at a Panasonic factory.
On the morning of March 12, 2022, Naomi parked her car at a Walmart in Fernley to catch a shuttle to work. Surveillance footage captured a man approaching her vehicle at 5:24 a.m., entering it, and driving away with Naomi inside. Her car was found three days later in an industrial area near Fernley.
Authorities arrested 41-year-old Troy Driver on March 25, 2022, in connection with Naomi’s disappearance. Driver had a prior criminal history, including a conviction for being an accessory to murder in 1997. He was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, and destruction of evidence.
On March 29, 2022, investigators, acting on a tip, discovered Naomi’s body in a shallow grave in a remote area of Churchill County, about 60 miles from Fernley. An autopsy confirmed she had died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Driver pleaded not guilty to all charges and was deemed competent to stand trial. His attorneys argued for a change of venue, citing the extensive media coverage and community impact in Lyon County.
On August 6, 2023, Driver was found dead in his jail cell from suicide by asphyxiation. He had been held in a maximum-security cell with no contact with other inmates.
Naomi’s family, particularly her brother Casey, led efforts to find her and seek justice. Following Driver’s death, Casey expressed mixed emotions, stating, “I deeply regret that he took the easy way out before the trial.” Due to the suicide of the prime suspect, the case remains officially unsolved.
Crime Immemorial 