The search for missing Top Chef star Naomi Pomeroy ended in tragedy when her body was discovered in a river on July 17. The Portland chef went missing following a tubing accident. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Pomeroy, her husband Kyle Linden Webster, and a friend were tubing and paddleboarding when they encountered an exposed snag in the water. Pomeroy was tragically pulled underwater by her paddleboard leash and was unable to free herself, leading to her drowning.
Though Corvallis Fire Department members were able to assist Webster and the friend safely to shore, Pomeroy’s body was not immediately located. Following an intensive search, the sheriff’s office confirmed that her body was found in the Willamette River, about half a mile upstream from Hyak Park, after being spotted by canoers.
Naomi Pomeroy, 49, was a self-trained chef who rose to fame with her Portland restaurant Beast, opened in 2007. Known for her appearances on Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters, she was also a guest judge on Top Chef in multiple seasons. Bravo, Top Chef’s network, released a heartfelt statement on X, honoring her as “a powerhouse chef who made an indelible mark on the culinary industry.”