Days after going missing, authorities discovered Naomi Pomeroy dead in a river. The police have released details of the horrific incident, including the river location and their official statement.
Naomi Pomeroy, widely renowned for her culinary skills on “Top Chef,” has unexpectedly gone away. On July 17, authorities discovered the Portland chef’s body in a river, following her disappearance a few days earlier. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) issued a statement confirming the unfortunate news that she drowned.
“We discovered Naomi Pomeroy’s corpse in the Willamette River this morning, July 17, 2024, about a half mile upstream of Hyak Park between Corvallis and Albany. The post on Facebook reads, “People canoeing on the river spotted a body and called 9-1-1.”
The statement goes on to say that when BCSO marine deputies arrived at the area, they discovered the deceased in a shallow portion of bedrock. The position is near the river’s core, which has around 1-2 feet of water.
After going missing on July 13, authorities discovered Pomeroy deceased at the age of 49. “Deputies released Naomi to a funeral home and notified her family of her recovery,” the police statement continues.
Another section of their communication suggests that Pomeroy died approximately at 8:25 p.m. on the same day she went missing. “Naomi drowned in the Willamette River near mile 132 […] about 100 yards upstream from the Mary’s River,” according to the statement.
Before the police made their statement, Pomeroy’s relatives told a news site that they feared she drowned.
They claimed that what began as a fun river trip with Pomeroy and her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, rapidly went sour when their flotilla flipped over after striking a snag in the murky water with fast-moving currents. A paddleboard leash kept Naomi underwater.
Webster survived and made it back to shore in treacherous waters, but his late wife did not. The search for Pomeroy commenced immediately, prompting the launch of rescue attempts.
The BSCO deputies began their search downstream from the event site, both by water and on land. Officials used every instrument available, including underwater cameras, drones, and sonar, but were unable to locate Pomeroy because of the massive debris.
When daylight ran out, search and rescue teams had to end the day’s search. However, they had kept a BSCO boat on the sea every day since Saturday (July 13), when Pomeroy went missing.
At the time, officials also asked the public to help by keeping an eye out for the late star’s body. They also asked the public to carry life jackets, take safety precautions, and follow all boating restrictions.
BSCO made it clear that if anyone found Naomi, they should not attempt to collect her and instead call 9-1-1. Sherrif Van Arsdall reaffirmed his commitment to securing Pomeroy’s safe return.
The late restaurateur started her culinary career as an unschooled cook, developing her own recipe at the age of four.
In 2014, she received the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific for her important contributions to the reformation of Beast, her contemporary Portland restaurant.
By 2020, Pomeroy had evolved Beast into an all-day restaurant and market. She nicknamed it Ripe Cooperative after her famous 2002 supper club. The restaurant, now closed, was a favorite among diners, earning a 4.5-star rating and wonderful reviews on TripAdvisor.
Her most recent culinary attempt was cofounding Cornet Custard, an ice cream store, with Mika Paredes. Pomeroy had also been planning to build a French restaurant at the former Woodsman Tavern on SE Division before her death.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Portland released a statement in remembrance of her confirmed death. “Oh, what a loss. Naomi was not just a fantastic cook and businesswoman, but also a wonderful person. She made a significant impact not only in Portland but also in building our leadership and culinary excellence reputation.
Pomeroy was also mentioned in the official X account for “Top Chef.” In their statement, they wrote, “The Bravo and ‘Top Chef’ families extend their profound condolences to Chef Naomi Pomeroy’s family and friends. Naomi was an incredible cook.”
Pomeroy’s family has requested privacy as they mourn and lament such a tragic loss, despite not having announced any memorial plans.
Her parents and stepmother, Ronna Pomeroy, two brothers, Colin and Andrew Pomeroy, and daughter August survive her, along with her husband Webster, with whom she co-owned the restaurant Expatriate.
She also had a half-brother, Joseph Michael Vito, who died in 2014. We express our sincere sympathies to all of Pomeroy’s loved ones and hope for healing during this difficult time. RIP, Naomi.