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The suspect accused of kidnapping and murdering 18-year-old Naomi Irion in a Walmart parking lot has died by suicide in his jail cell. Troy Driver, 43, was awaiting trial for first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. He was found unresponsive during a routine cell check and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Authorities believe Driver died by asphyxiation. The incident is currently being investigated by Nevada State Police. Kelly Rissman reported
The individual who was suspected of abducting and murdering Naomi Irion, an 18-year-old who went missing in a Walmart parking lot, has taken his own life while awaiting trial in his jail cell. According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, on 6 August at 6.17pm, jail deputies conducting routine checks discovered the inmate, Troy Driver, unresponsive. Despite efforts by officers and medical personnel, Driver could not be revived. Authorities believe that Driver died from self-inflicted asphyxiation. He was being held in a high-security cell with no contact with other inmates. The Nevada State Police are currently investigating the incident.
Driver had been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in relation to Irion’s disappearance in March 2022. Irion had recently relocated to Nevada to live with her brother, Casey Valley, before the tragic incident occurred. Valley expressed his mixed emotions regarding Driver’s death on Facebook, stating his belief that Driver was the perpetrator but expressing regret that he chose to avoid facing trial.
Following an anonymous tip, investigators located Irion’s body at a remote location in Nevada several weeks after she vanished outside the Fernley Walmart, situated 30 miles east of Reno. Surveillance footage showed a hooded figure, later identified as Driver, interacting with the 18-year-old in the Walmart parking lot, where Irion was seen moving from the driver’s side to the passenger’s side of her vehicle.
Notably, the suspect in Irion’s murder had previously admitted guilt as an accessory to murder in 1997. At the age of 17, Driver reportedly assisted his girlfriend in disposing of the body of a methamphetamine dealer in Willits, California.
If you are currently grappling with feelings of distress, isolation, or struggling to cope, The Samaritans provide confidential support. You can reach out to them for free over the phone at 116 123 (UK and ROI), via email at jo@samaritans.org, or find details of your nearest branch on the Samaritans website. In the USA, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) offers immediate mental health assistance 24/7. If you reside in another country, visit www.befrienders.org to locate a helpline in your area..
