Days after going missing, “Top Chef” star Naomi Pomeroy, 49, was discovered dead in a river

After being discovered dead in a river, Top Chef star Naomi Pomeroy’s tragic disappearance has brought an end to the search for her. The Portland chef went missing after a tubing accident, and her body was found on July 17, according to sources.

Naomi had drowned, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a devastating statement. According to its investigation, three adults—Pomeroy, her husband Kyle Linden Webster, and a friend—got tangled up on connected tubes and a paddleboard.

Tragic details in their report continue, stating that Naomi was unable to free herself because of the “paddleboard leash” and was pushed beneath when the party met a “exposed snag in the water.”

Tragic details in their report continue, stating that Naomi was unable to free herself because of the “paddleboard leash” and was pushed beneath when the party met a “exposed snag in the water.” Webster and the buddy were retrieved by Corvallis Fire Department personnel near the coast, sources claim, but Pomeroy’s body was not found right away.

Following the start of the search, Pomeroy’s corpse was discovered in the Willamette River between the municipalities of Corvallis and Albany, approximately 0.5 miles upstream of Hyak Park. This information was provided by the sheriff’s office in an update on July 17.

The office described how a body that was later identified as Naomi’s had been spotted by canoeists on the river. The 49-year-old chef, who self-taught, rose to fame in her field after launching the critically praised Beast restaurant in Portland in 2007. Pomeroy was a guest judge on Top Chef in seasons 10, 15, and 18, and she has made appearances on Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters.

Following Pomeroy’s passing, the programme and its network, Bravo, released the following statement on X: “The family of Bravo and Top Chef extends their sincere sympathies to Chef Naomi Pomeroy’s family and friends. Strong chef Naomi left a lasting impression on the food sector.