In January of this year, the deaths of two Mendocino County women fueled a viral internet rumor that a serial killer could be preying upon North Coast women.
Today, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office made public their findings regarding Alyssa Sawdey, the 22-year-old woman found deceased on the 3600 block of Ukiah’s Christy Lane.
MCSO states that Sawday died from “acute methamphetamine toxicity” and there were not any noted “significant contributory factors”.
Detectives reportedly “interviewed multiple people who had information related to Sawdey’s activities prior to her death”.
Based on these interviews, evidence from the scene, and the autopsy report, her death is being classified as an “accidental death.”
The other Mendocino County woman,33-year-old Willits woman Amber Dillon, was found deceased right over the Mendocino/Sonoma County line on January 8, just days before the discovery of Sawdey. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Detectives reportedly surveyed the scene where Dillon was found.
We have reached out to SCSO for any updates regarding Dillon’s cause of death and have yet to hear back.
The two women’s deaths in close geographical and chronological proximity became fodder for a viral internet rumor that would claim a serial killer was responsible for their deaths along with one woman in Sonoma County, one in Napa County, and one even in Sacramento County.
Troy Driver, a former Mendocino County man who was involved in a 1997 Willits homicide, is currently the lead suspect in the death of 18-year-old Nevada woman Naomi Irion. Her death, Driver’s arrest, and his geographic connection to Mendocino County have led internet sleuths to postulate Driver could be the serial killer that killed these women on the North Coast.
As the public waits for more information regarding the deaths of these other women that internet sleuths speciously speculate were victims of a serial killer, we want to express our deepest condolences to Alyssa Mae Sawdey and her family.
The following is the press release from MCSO regarding their investigation into the death of Alyssa Mae Sawdey:
On 03-29-2022, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division completed its investigation into the death of Alyssa Sawdey.
The investigation determined Sawdey’s cause of death as being “Acute Methamphetamine Toxicity” with no other significant contributory factors.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have also been actively investigating this case since 01-11-2022 and interviewed multiple people who had information related to Sawdey’s activities prior to her death.
Based on those interviews, scene investigations and the finalized autopsy report, Sawdey’s death has been classified as being an accidental death.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to Alyssa Sawdey’s family and thank the community for their assistance during this investigation.
Editor’s Note
The North Coast of California has a disproportionately high rate of drug abuse and addiction compared to the rest of California Treatment can help. The following resources are available to those seeking support for themselves or their loved ones:
- Mendocino County
- Contact Behavioral Health and Recovery Services at 1(855)765-9703.
- Humboldt County
- Contact the Humboldt County Substance Use Disorder Hotline at 1-855-765-9703
- Trinity County
- Contact Alcohol and Other Drug Service at (530)623-1362
- Lake County
- Contact the Substance Use Disorder Services at 1(800)900-2075
Previous Coverage
Amber Dillon
Alyssa Mae Sawdey
so what happened to the white van that she was in when the man pushed her out onto the ground isn’t he partially to blame she was supposed to be taken to the hospital
What white van? Was it O.J. he’s been out. Pretty Lady hopefully she’s still partying in paradise
How they know she wasn’t drugged & dumped?
Not satisfactory. No comment on how her body was found in an isolated location by the side of the road. No closure on how she overdosed. Not saying the family should not be offered condolences. In fact, condolences might include more closure on what happened. It is certainly not clear WHY whoever dropped her off in that location is being protected, if they know at all who it was.
Alyssa was not found in an “isolated” location.
She was found outside on biz property, behind the building across the street from pace supply.
That area of Christy lane where she was found is less than 500′ from N State St in the “Forks” area and is surrounded by well traveled businesses.
Why do you presume someone is being “protected” when the details of the as of yet incomplete investigation were not yet disclosed?
There is no true methamphetamine in the country rt now due to ephedrine restrictions so this young lady consumed a large amount of bi amphetemibes to cause death impossible to snort or eat so was she injected idoubt she shot herself up with enough to kill an elephant sounds like foul play to me if this were fentanyl. I could believe it but this needs more investigation case not closed in my book
Hey Mike…real methamphetamine is present in the US.
It’s generally produced in Mexico or SE Asia, where the precursor chemicals are much easier to obtain without heavy federal tracking, and is then smuggled into the US.
This has been happening for many years.
Ephedrine restrictions mostly affected smaller time cooks and users as large scale cooks use chems farther up the chemical source chain…like the assholes who were stealing entire rail cars of anhydrous ammonia in the modwest and SW.
So, “Non-Fiction”, just wondering if you are proposing that she took too much meth, maybe at the Forks where she was, for some reason, hanging out alone, and then wandered off to this parking area where she tragically expired on the spot. I would say that is the most improbable non-fiction I have ever heard. And it would not make it as fiction either!
Tdsa,
If I was “proposing” anything then I would be clear and specific about it, ergo there is no need to wonder.
How is it that you think further presumptions are warranted bcuz I presented facts that don’t support your initial presumptions?
Have a problem with facts?
Why do you presume someone is being “protected” when the details of the as of yet incomplete investigation were not yet disclosed?
Just saying that the neighborhood of which you speak is not exactly the kind you take a casual walk in. It is extremely bleak and industrial for a pedestrian. Since there is no mention of a car nearby that belonged to her, she was presumably brought there in a car that then left the scene. I think that the person who drove that car is being protected, yes. Right now in Santa Rosa there is a trial beginning involving a couple of overdoses that were dropped at a hospital. The person who dropped them there (the overdoses died) is charged with a crime. And that was a drop off at a hospital. Check it out, it’s in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat paper.
Maybe I am missing something, but I think the article hinted that the case was closed as it was an “accidental death”. The deaths in Santa Rosa were also accidental but the person who is standing trial did not do enough to save them. Maybe this Ukiah case is something completely different, but, if not, it should be addressed.
You can look the article up on Google under “Santa Rosa Homeowner to Stand Trial in Connection with 2 Overdose Deaths”.