Naomi Irion Found Dead— The Lead Suspect in Her Disappearance was an Accomplice to Murder in Mendocino County 25 Years Ago
The gravesite of missing teen, Naomi Irion, has been found in a remote area. The suspect in her kidnapping, who is under arrest, is a former Mendocino man.
In the early morning hours of March 12, 2022, 18-year-old Naomi Irion of Fernley, Nevada waited in the Walmart parking lot for her bus to work that morning. Surveillance footage of the parking lot would capture a man wearing a hoodie and mask approaching Irion’s vehicle. He would enter Irion’s vehicle via the driver’s door, cajole her to move into the passenger seat, commandeer the vehicle, drive out of the parking lot, and abduct Irion.
This would be the last time Naomi Irion would be seen alive.
In the days following Irion’s disappearance, the story would emerge as the first nationally-followed crime of 2022.
On Friday, March 25, Lyon’s County Sheriff’s Office identified 41-year-old Troy Driver as the man that entered Irion’s car and drove out of the parking lot with her. Law enforcement would book him for felony kidnapping as a result of their investigation.
Despite the identification of Irion’s purported kidnapper, there was no sign of where she had gone after pulling out of the Walmart parking lot. Search and rescue volunteers, citizen searchers, and law enforcement combed Fernley and outlying areas far and wide to no avail.
That is, until the day before yesterday, March 29, 2022.
Compelled by a tip, investigators from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and a Detective from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a “remote area of Churchill County.”
In that remote area, a gravesite was located. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Investigative Services team located the body of a white, female adult that was subsequently taken to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Yesterday, March 30, 2022, those remains were identified as Naomi Irion, the 18-year-old woman who had been missing for eighteen days.
Troy Driver, the man accused of kidnapping Irion, could very likely see a murder charge in the coming days.
Mendocino County locals know that this is not the first time Troy Driver is a suspect in a murder. In late April 1997, Driver was 17-years-old and would take part in the brutal murder of 19-year-old Paul Rodriguez on a rural Willits Roadway. Driver would stuff Rodriguez’s body in the trunk of a vehicle, ditch his remains off State Route 128, and burn Rodriguez’s vehicle to get rid of the evidence.
Earlier that month, Driver and accomplices would carry firearms into a Ukiah, Willits, and Rohnert Park convenience store and commit armed robbery, stealing cigarettes and cash. A parole officer would later ask Driver what motivated him to commit those robberies. He reportedly replied that “It was easier to rob someone than to work and earn the money.”
Driver would plead guilty to being an accessory to murder after the fact. He also pled guilty to the three armed robberies charges. The plea agreement included a provision that Driver would serve fifteen years in state prison for his crimes.
If you would like to know more about Driver’s crimes in Mendocino County, read our in-depth exploration of the murder of Paul Rodriguez here.
25 years later after helping murder Willits resident Paul Rodriguez, Driver now stands at the center of the first major American crime story of 2022 as the primary suspect, last seen with an 18-year-old who was patiently waiting to commute to her day job when he abducted her. Her dead body has been found, and a murder charge most likely awaits.
It must be stated that the kidnapping charges Troy Driver currently faces associated with the disappearance of Naomi Irion have not been proven in a court of law. In accordance with the legal principle of the presumption of innocence, Driver should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The following is the press release from Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office announcing the discovery of Irion’s remains:
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Investigators from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office along with a Detective from the Lyon County Sheriff’s office responded to a remote part of Churchill County following a tip regarding the disappearance of Naomi Irion.
Their investigative actions led them to a possible gravesite. Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Investigative Services team was contacted and responded to assist in processing the scene. The body of an adult Caucasian female was recovered from that gravesite, the body was transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy and to confirm identification.
On March 30, 2022 the remains were confirmed as those of Naomi Irion, the family has been notified. No further information can be released at this time as this is still an open and active investigation. 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.
The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely on these cases.
Previous Coverage:The Violent Mendocino County Beginnings of Troy Driver, the Lead Suspect in the Kidnapping and Disappearance of Nevada’s Naomi Irion
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Question? Who are his other victims? I find it hard to believe this is the only one. Did a serial killer just get caught? Hope so. Terrible. Just terrible. Sorry for her loss. A beautiful, responsible young woman going to work. Taken out by a selfish sick jerk. DONT LET HIM OUT AGAIN.
He did serve quite some time, but likely yes
This is the exact situation where someone who commits a heinous murder of a human should be put to death rather than “rehabilitated” in our shitty prison system. This innocent woman paid for his disregard for human life. Time to execute this guy. Straight up!!
Oh no! Can’t do that! We must be “compassionate”. If killing is wrong then why can we kill killers? We must coddle and try to understand them. The killers are certainly victims also! That’s why when CA voters to reinstate the death penalty our wonderfully caring Governor French Laundry refused to allow it- because he is full of compassion and caring! In fact- we should release this killer again in a few years after he has learned to change his ways and he has also become “compassionate”. Because WE CARE SO MUCH! (Yes- all of this was bitter sarcasm directed at the people so full of bullshit and Misplaced Compassion)
I don’t think criminals should be coddled or understood in any way. I do think that the killing of people by the state is not civilized and shouldn’t be an option. I also don’t think life of any kind is overly precious, and I agree that every one of our current problems are based on overpopulation. Still, murder by the state is wrong. Too often used politically and many innocent men have been put to death.
Dang! Okay I agree with you on most points. Except I think we should reinstate the death penalty- not even for every murder or rape but for the exceptionally brutal ones. I think we can institute more safeguards than we used to have to make sure we do not execute innocent people who just couldn’t afford decent lawyers. I’m disturbed that the people of CA voted for it but our governor shut down the will of the people. Thanks for explaining your position. We need healthy debate in our society based on mutual respect. You just did better than me on that respect part! Have a great day
What safeguards? Why haven’t they been implemented already if they are so easy? There are no “absolutes” and the fact is our justice system is extremely unfair. What purpose does murder serve? Why in the world do you think prison is the same as coddling?
The state/country is literally forged from the killing of people.. why stop now with psychos? Seriously.. why do we care about a few murderous junkies when it’s the security of the masses at stake. Compassion is not a suitable answer. If someone can kill another for breaking into their home, if they felt their life was in imminent danger, even in California, why can’t we put this mad dog down. Obviously he will never rehabilitate. And even if it’s a maybe that he will kill again, we need a deterrent for behavior like this
It is a false equivalence to suggest someone caught in the act of a crime is the same as someone arrested based on “evidence” and convicted of the same crime. Our justice system is extremely unfair. It isn’t about compassion, it is about fairness and not harming innocents.
Genesis 9 : 6
The REASON we do not put people to death can be found by a couple of minutes reading about the Innocence Project which has proved many people on death row innocent of the murder of which they were convicted.
Life in prison without the possibility of parole is enough.
Juries make mistakes
Compassionate isn’t the reason to be against the death penalty, the reason is that more times then should the state gets the wrong person. Put them in prison for life, but if someone was found innocent you can let them out of prison. You can’t bring them back from the dead.
But…often people are sentenced to life in prison but are then let out on parole years later. Then they go kill somebody else. If they were dead then they wouldn’t be able to do that! Can’t we make a better case for tightening up the death penalty so only very guilty people get put down? The people of California voted for reinstitution of the death penalty…so anybody arguing against it is actually arguing against the will of the people…arguing against democracy
There is not “very” guilty, just guilty. Human judgement is a poor measure of someone’s innocence or guilt.
I guess if a prisoner is released on parole who again commits a crime and especially a violent crime then we need to have better parole boards that make sure individuals are ready to be reintegrated into society. That’s why we have prisons, not as punishment but rehabilitation. If they cannot rehabilitate then keep them in prison.
I don’t care what the people want, supposedly the people also voted to remove my 2nd amendment rights. I’d prefer to live under a republic that has laws that respect inalienable rights than a state that falls to the whim of democratic tyranny.
Look up “Nevada”.
Life in prison as Punishment. Not rehabilitation. Have you seen a good person get old, and die on you? It can be pretty hard on them. Execution is an easy way out. It doesn’t bring your loved one back in exchange. I’m speaking as someone who has a convicted murderer of a family member in prison. I would rather he suffer the same indignities of old age, while in prison, as the parents of his victim. Actually kick him out when he gets old and sick, and subject him to the “healthcare” shakedown we’re all gonna face. Give him a blue tarp. While he’s healthy, he might as well work to keep the prison going and lower our costs.
I agree we are being too soft on violent criminals. I can see why people are moving out of this state.
Except more people are moving to CA than moving out. And many who move go to TX or ID. good riddance
Open boarders. Welcome to all. People whom left rejoice, people who come are America’s finest.
“Boarders”? I must have missed the part in the article where anyone’s immigration status is mentioned but thanks for outing yourself as racist.
Spell much? Bigotry much?
Who are moving to California? Criminals looking for no penalties. Illegals looking for a sanctuary where they can be as crooked as they please? Future politicians because they can afford the cost as they are privileged and will be focused on getting richer by being bought by activist groups?
You can have this back, as I made my fortune and will be leaving before California taxes me to pay for “reperations” that I or my ancestors had nothing to do with. Yes, please, good riddance to me.
There are no criminals shopping around for States with light penalties. Listen to yourself. Ya got all worked up and now you sound silly. This happened in Nevada. This article is about a criminal who left CA.
I’m pretty sure most sane people want to leave, but can’t afford too, no water, countless fires, crime through the roof. Major corporations fleeing, so my point being, mass border crossings are filling the voids. Hack Uhalls are booked for 6 months out.
So no not racist, just wish borders were secure, laws were enforced, and people got real news, and not late night opinions and comedy central.
Ps also northern border is just as open and ripe for nasty stuff to get through.
Lol, racist and spell check much…not
Please do not promote violence against anyone. This man could have had a difficult upbringing. You know nothing about this man. To promote state sponsored murder is just wrong! It dehumanizes us as people. Please Cherry if you need help there are people to talk to. Violence does not help violence. “Straight Up”
To use the the phrase had a tough upbringing Ed not excuse one’s behavior. There are plenty who have had horrible childhoods but pulled themes out of it just as there have been people who had every privilege in childhood and become horrible/ criminal people. That bad childhood is becoming a “cop out@ for bad behavior.
Sorry about typos. My fat fingers got in the way
You’re confusing ‘talking’ about reasons with simply making semi- moral judgments. Anyone who utilizes themselves as having had a difficult upbringing as a justifiable rationale for them then going on to engage in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal behavior, is not taking sufficient responsibility nor accountability for their subsequent actions as an adult. Having had a rough childhood (or not) is not a mitigating circumstance when looking at someone’s criminality. I’m also no advocate for the death penalty. However, recividism rates for long-term, incarcerated violent, convicted criminals are far from encouraging, either. This country also has an appalling incarceration rate, within a corrections system that is heavily influenced by an entrenched culture of gangs, drugs, money, greed, and self-interest.
I’ll believe in the death penalty the day I believe we would only execute the guilty.
And that day is not today
It might be a deterrence that tells people the net gets cast far and wide so steer the hell away from dirt bags, cause you know you might just get put to death. How does our system make criminals think twice?
Cell phones have GPS now, and the ability to eliminate wrong person wrong place is easy
No, it isn’t if you actually understand the justice system. Relying on GPS alone is essentially guaranteeing people will be arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Do you believe in putting a man away for life, only when we are putting away the guilty, for life?
Not that I believe, or don’t believe, in the death penalty.
In some ways, I believe the death penalty would be more humane than locking a man up until he dies, especially considering the kind of treatment he might receive, and also be innocent.
Let the man make the choice.
I kinda agree to an extent. The way the system is set up it isn’t much of a rehabilitation at all, it’s More like a rehab/criminal education day care. If we intend on letting out dangerous criminals who have done violent crimes with the intention of preventing their future crimes, then we might as well just keep them locked up for life once they comit a serious violent crime. Because nine times out of 10 they are going to do it again because they didn’t get rehabilitated properly. This more angry frustrated and more hopeless in the system and in a productive future most likely.
Just imagine all the crimes he’s committed that we don’t even know about. Scum of the earth.
>”… following a tip regarding the disappearance of Naomi Irion.”
Perp must have talked to someone.
Or they got him to start confessing. They got to him pretty quick. Maybe someone close came forward.
It’s also quite possible that he was delighted to talk about it. Psychopaths are like that.
What a deplorable pos! That poor girl!
Check out his left ear!
Clipped him 2 let everyone know he’s either neutered or a dbag
“Clipped him 2 let everyone know he’s either neutered or a dbag”
I’ve never heard that before, is that a common practice?
So sorry this young woman had her life cut short by this POS. Sincere condolences to any family members who may read this.
It’s a practice for releasing feral animals. Disgusting these comments. Focus on Naomi and her family.
Why are u soo worried about a murderers feelings getting hurt?
i couldn’t imagine the last previous moments of life being hunted and tortured by this scumbag!
Mike Tyson left his mark.
These look about right…
Oh, wait, they are “rights”.
This guy has got a bite out of his “left”…
It’s already checked out.
If Driver had been executed after his first murder, Ms Irions would still be alive.
He didn’t murder anyone the first time
Guilt by association.
He was definitely in the loop, and didn’t try to stop it.
Conspiracy to commit murder, would you believe?
Close enough
“Guilt by association” in the Driver case means he was charged under the law of parties. This legal doctrine takes the common sense view that if a criminal’s participation is necessary for commission of a crime, they are equally guilty as the criminal. Driver was originally charged with first degree murder. As easily as he got off, he must have testified against his fellow defendants.
Sure. He just was willingly there, stuffed the body into the trunk (used some force for that) and then dumped the body in a shallow grave. He’s barely even guilty! A fine human being and we should be happy to have him around…
According to the news reports on Paul Rodriguez’s murder from 25 years ago, (that Driver was an accompliss to), Paul Rodriguez was, coincidentally, found in a shallow grave, same way as Naomi Irion was reportedly found.
Another M.O., with a possible similarity to another one of Drivers possible M.O.’s, that suggests a link.
I would hardly say a shallow grave is an uncommon occurrence
I didn’t say it was uncommon, I said it was a coincidence with
Naomi Irion and Paul Rodriguez, with the common denominator being Troy Edward Driver.
Incidentally,
I found this…
“Irion’s vehicle was found 3 days after she went missing, near a paint manufacturing facility in an industrial park along Interstate 80, not far from the store”
Sorry, I didn’t write down the source… And I don’t remember it
https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2022/03/31/naomi-irion-body-found-nevada-troy-driver-charged/
Thanks, I just, posted the source, but no link… There is some more information in that article, and I saw another report that said that the “store” her car was found near was in fact the Walmart.
The following quote about Irions car being found three days after she went missing, is from Channel 13, CBS Sacramento…
From yesterday’s article…
As the world waits for answers, Sheriff Kendall looks back at his time investigating Driver’s crimes: “There is no litmus that tells us whether someone is going to stay evil.”
Not sure what color the litmus test was in Kendall’s world last week…but it just turned all BLACK yesterday! RIP Naomi…love to her family and friends!
Democrats consider this population control. That’s why they don’t punish anyone.
And Republicans think Putin is committing population control right now.
Serious question tho. Would you prefer that 1-2 billion die now of seemingly natural causes and give the earth chance to heal a little.. or another 6 billion people be born in the next 30 years and watch the whole planet devolve into chaos and starvation and war and extreme poverty and class warfare?
Should have let Covid run it’s course. And then take out the murderers, rapists and child molesters, Then the animal torturers. Then take a deep breath, make a head count and consider who else. I’m with you- we are headed towards mass starvation events and that is a terrible way to go
All this talk of overpopulation is way overblown. The western world has been shrinking in population and child rearing for decades. If it weren’t for immigration, the US population would be steadily declining, as in other industrialized nations. Predictions of over population are old and outdated. They didn’t know people would stop having lots of children, plus our male and female fertility rates are dropping like crazy, possibly from soy based estrogen spikes and god knows what else.
Grow up. The democrats tried to punishTrump…
Liberal Democrats have run this State for decades, they are in control of what laws get passed and what laws dont. They are truly ultimately responsible for the situation we find ourselves in today…..we have a lower standard now for what constitutes a felony (hence more criminals on the street), we do not enforce the gun laws on the books (so they want to create more gun laws so it appears they are doing something for gun violence), they continue to put in place more social programs and assistance for criminals (out of out taxes), repeat felons do not remain in jail, there is now a no bail needed to get out of jail (simply get the paperwork done and off you go), and on and on.
The amazing thing is we as citizens of this once great State continue to let it happen, and continue to let them convince us these are the correct way. We are afraid of getting framed as “not woke”, “rascist”, etc if we say anything that goes against what the media and the liberals are putting forth.
Bottom line, this POS should not have been allowed to be walking around amongst law-abiding citizens, period. Repeat felon, murderer, and likely as one commenter posted, was involved in other crimes that did not get caught for!!
This young responsible lady would have continued to be a great part of our society. Instead society gets weaker and less pleasant.
BS. There was much more crime in California and the country when Reagan was in control. Crime has been trending down for decades with only an increase during the pandemic. Additionally, this crime was committed in Nevada, not California.
Dude hey, I wish I could remember the crime rate from Reagan, know because of the jabe?
Americans have lost their souls because of being conditioned to be heartless. Show me a kind American and ill show you thier green card or work visa.
Just read the comments and articles on this blog. Mad viewers and some not all writers appear to be hell bent on being in denial.
Now I know most people are scared about being labeled or not being woke, but uck, it you are trying to appease people, you will never find anything but vices like drugs, booze, and food.
Know let’s say, you say, uck the created, I want to appease the creator. Well, you might not be happy, but you will be joyous and free.
So, in conclusion. Yah, Nevada and California are both demonic States. California probably alittle worse, seeing the Natives cursed a lot of the town squares, and a lot of evil societies run a lot of the organizations and universities.
Word, my late friend, mocked the law because he would get away with all kinds of crime. From driving around uninsured, to transporting hard drugs, he became invincible, know he’s dead.
Seems he told someone where the body was or they never would have received a credible tip for a remote location. He’s probably blabbed about other crimes to other people.
Hey, Matt LaFever,
It appears there has been a killer on the loose now doesn’t it?
From Mendocino even.
And he does his dirty work on,and frequents I 80, the same road that the victim in the Junkee Clothing van that had a fire built in it, and even might have dumped a body on 128, east of Navarro, way back when…
And I thought that a body would be found dumped on 128, “subsequently” to the others being found, but as it turns out, a body was dumped on 128, “previously” to the others being found…
Go figure…
Just another coincidence, I guess…?♂️
Do you think it was this guy’s first “rodeo”, or what?
Think he might be a serial killer, Matt?
Kind of fits the “Junkee Clothing” van victim MO, if nothing else.
I can’t remember her name.
Kathleen “Kathy” Griffin went missing from Reno NV on January 25, 2022.
Reno is about an hour from Troy Drivers home town of Fallon, NV.
Fernley, NV, where Naomi Irion was abducted from, is about halfway between Reno NV and Fallon NV.
It should be investigated, IMHO.
Matt , is just following orderz
Rest In Peace sweet baby angel
may he be punished justly.
may her family find peace.
Oh no- we should feed and clothe him for the rest of his life and let him hang out and watch TV… Because we care! ….I guess we just don’t care about innocent victims as much. But we sure do care about criminals. That’s because we have a special kind of empathy and compassion, real special