‘Top Chef’ Star Naomi Pomeroy Found Dead at 49 – River Mystery Unfolds

The search for missing *Top Chef* star Naomi Pomeroy has come to a tragic end as she was found dead in a river.

Reports say that the Portland chef’s body was found on July 17, several days after she went missing during a tubing accident.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Naomi had drowned. Their investigation revealed that Naomi, her husband Kyle Linden Webster, and a friend were using tubes and a paddleboard that got tangled together.

Sadly, the report explains that Naomi was pulled underwater when the group hit an “exposed snag in the water.” She couldn’t free herself due to the paddleboard leash.

Rescue teams from the Corvallis Fire Department were able to save Webster and their friend, but they couldn’t find Naomi right away.

A search was launched, and on July 17, the sheriff’s office shared that Naomi’s body was found about half a mile upstream of Hyak Park, between Corvallis and Albany.

The office said that people canoeing on the river spotted a body, which turned out to be Naomi’s.

Naomi Pomeroy, 49, was a self-taught chef who gained fame after opening her Portland restaurant, Beast, in 2007.

She appeared on *Iron Chef* and *Top Chef Masters*, and served as a guest judge on *Top Chef* in seasons 10, 15, and 18.

*Top Chef* and Bravo issued a statement after her death on social media, saying:
“The Bravo and *Top Chef* family send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Chef Naomi Pomeroy. Naomi was a powerhouse chef who left a lasting impact on the culinary world.”