18-year-old feared kidnapped in her own car in Walmart parking lot, Nevada cops say

Update: A Fallon, Nevada, man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping in the case, sheriff’s official say. The search for Naomi Irion continues.



An 18-year-old woman may have been abducted in her own vehicle from a Walmart parking lot in Nevada, sheriff’s officials reported.

Naomi Irion was last seen about 5 a.m. Saturday, March 12, in the store parking lot in Fernley, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Her mother told KOLO that Irion was waiting for a shuttle bus to her job in the Reno area.

Security video shows a man lurking among vehicles in the parking lot, sheriff’s officials said in an earlier release.

Video shows the man climb into Irion’s blue 1992 Mercury Sable and drive off with her in the passenger seat, sheriff’s officials said.

In a GoFundMe post, Irion’s sister says video shows the man shoving her into the vehicle before driving off.

Her car was discovered abandoned at noon Tuesday, March 15, in an industrial park in Fernley. Evidence in the vehicle suggests Irion’s disappearance was criminal in nature, officials said.

On Wednesday, March 16, sheriff’s officials reported they are continuing to search for Irion and are looking for the driver of a dark 2020 Chevrolet 2500 High Country four-door pickup truck.

Investigators believe the driver has a “direct connection to her disappearance and her current whereabouts,” a news release said.

Irion remains missing. Officials ask that anyone with information call detective Erik Kusmerz regarding case number 22LY01068 at 775-577-5206 or email detective@lyon-county.org.

Fernley is a city of about 20,000 people east of Reno.

This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 9:31 AM with the headline "18-year-old feared kidnapped in her own car in Walmart parking lot, Nevada cops say."