Vegas man Troy Driver ‘who kidnapped and killed Naomi Irion, 18, outside Walmart’ dies of suspected SUICIDE in his prison cell

A murder suspect accused of abducting an 18-year-old girl outside a Walmart and murdering her at a rural mining site has died in prison by presumed suicide.

Troy Driver, 43, was found unconscious in his cell on Sunday night as officers conducted a routine check around the maximum-security facility in Lyon County, Nevada, where he was being held.

“Deputies immediately entered the cell and began life-saving measures, including CPR,” Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope.

Pope said Driver had “no contact with other inmates” and believes the death was self-inflicted.

Police believe Driver is lurking outside Walmart the night she disappeared

Irion’s stepbrother, Casey Valley, raised the alarm when she didn’t come home

Irion is seen walking before a man got into her car and drove off with her. It is unclear if she knew Driver

The body of 18-year-old Naomi Irion was found in a makeshift grave at a rural mining site

Driver was arrested in connection with the disappearance and death of Naomi Irion.

He was charged with murder, kidnapping, assault and related crimes by the Lyon County District Attorney.

A man was spotted by Fernley Walmart’s security cameras grazing the parking lot in the early hours of March 12 wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans after her stepbrother, Casey Valley, raised the alarm.

He’d gone to the Walmart and begged to watch the video the next night after becoming increasingly concerned about her disappearance.

The grainy footage showed a person getting into Irion’s car at 5:24 a.m. before her car left the parking lot.

“We saw the man break into her car,” Valley said.

Police believed the man to be Driver who lived in Fallon, about 30 minutes from the Walmart.

Irion’s remains were found in Churchill County 17 days after she was abducted from a Walmart in Fernley

Police announced they were looking for a black pickup in connection with the case

A makeshift memorial was erected along the main street in Fernley in the teen’s honor

On March 16, police announced they were looking for a black pickup in connection with the case – a model similar to Driver’s.

He was arrested on March 25 and his vehicle was impounded.

The missing teen’s remains were discovered in a remote area of ​​Nevada 17 days after she was abducted on March 29.

Investigators found her body on a grave in an unknown area of ​​Churchill County just hours after her accused kidnapper appeared in court via Zoom.

Officials said they found the body around 9 p.m. Tuesday night after receiving a tip that led them to the rugged mountains about 150 miles from where she had been taken.

Irion moved to America last year after growing up in sheltered communities in Russia, Germany and South Africa, due to her father’s job at the State Department

Investigators acted on a tip about her disappearance when they found the grave

Irion’s family was pictured Wednesday during the driver’s arraignment at Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley

A court date was set for July 9, 2024. The ex-convict faced life without parole if convicted.

He was accused of raping Irion. She was also fatally shot, with her body left in a makeshift grave.

Irion’s heartbroken stepbrother said the death didn’t give the family the closure they needed.

“I feel like his suicide is an admission of guilt,” he told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “But I wish the justice system had a chance to rule.”

A formal investigation into the driver’s death is expected to be launched by the Nevada State Police Division of Investigations.