Ukiah’s Alyssa Mae Sawdey, Once Thought a Victim of an Internet-Invented Serial Killer, Died Accidentally from ‘Acute Methamphetamine Toxicity’, Says MCSO

Alyssa Mae Sawdey [Picture provided by a family friend]

Today, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office made public their findings regarding Alyssa Sawdey, the 22-year-old woman found deceased on the 3600 block of Ukiah’s Christy Lane.

MCSO states that Sawday died from “acute methamphetamine toxicity” and there were not any noted “significant contributory factors”.

Detectives reportedly “interviewed multiple people who had information related to Sawdey’s activities prior to her death”.

Based on these interviews, evidence from the scene, and the autopsy report, her death is being classified as an “accidental death.”

The other Mendocino County woman,33-year-old Willits woman Amber Dillon, was found deceased right over the Mendocino/Sonoma County line on January 8, just days before the discovery of Sawdey. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Detectives reportedly surveyed the scene where Dillon was found.

Amber Dillon

We have reached out to SCSO for any updates regarding Dillon’s cause of death and have yet to hear back.

The two women’s deaths in close geographical and chronological proximity became fodder for a viral internet rumor that would claim a serial killer was responsible for their deaths along with one woman in Sonoma County, one in Napa County, and one even in Sacramento County.

Troy Driver, a former Mendocino County man who was involved in a 1997 Willits homicide, is currently the lead suspect in the death of 18-year-old Nevada woman Naomi Irion. Her death, Driver’s arrest, and his geographic connection to Mendocino County have led internet sleuths to postulate Driver could be the serial killer that killed these women on the North Coast. 

As the public waits for more information regarding the deaths of these other women that internet sleuths speculated were victims of a serial killer, we want to express our deepest condolences to Alyssa Mae Sawdey’s family. 

The following is the press release from MCSO regarding their investigation into the death of Alyssa Mae Sawdey: 

On 03-29-2022, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division completed its investigation into the death of Alyssa Sawdey. 

The investigation determined Sawdey’s cause of death as being “Acute Methamphetamine Toxicity” with no other significant contributory factors. 

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have also been actively investigating this case since 01-11-2022 and interviewed multiple people who had information related to Sawdey’s activities prior to her death. 

Based on those interviews, scene investigations and the finalized autopsy report, Sawdey’s death has been classified as being an accidental death. 

The Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to Alyssa Sawdey’s family and thank the community for their assistance during this investigation.

Editor’s Note

The North Coast of California has a disproportionately high rate of drug abuse and addiction compared to the rest of California Treatment can help. The following resources are available to those seeking support for themselves or their loved ones:

• Mendocino County
  • Contact Behavioral Health and Recovery Services at 1(855)765-9703.
• Humboldt County
  • Contact the Humboldt County Substance Use Disorder Hotline at  1-855-765-9703
• Trinity County 
  • Contact Alcohol and Other Drug Service at (530)623-1362
• Lake County 
  • Contact the Substance Use Disorder Services at  1(800)900-2075

Earlier:

• Death of 22-Year-Old Woman Deemed Suspicious, Says Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office
• Mendocino County Sheriff Kendall on Rumors a Serial Killer Is Behind Recent ‘Suspicious’ Deaths of Two Mendocino County Women
• Despite Law Enforcement’s Emphatic Denials, Social Media Insists Four Women Are Victims of a North Coast Serial Killer
• Conjecture on Social Media Grows as a Central Valley Woman’s Homicide Is Added to a Dubious North Coast Serial Killer Narrative