In a recent development, the Metro Nashville Police Department in Tennessee has discovered a significant lead in the case of the missing University of Missouri college student, Riley Strain.
In a recent announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Nashville Police revealed that Strain's bank card was discovered on Sunday along the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River, near Riverfront Park. "The search for him continues," stated the Nashville PD.
There was another incident where a body was found floating down the Cumberland River around 1 p.m. on Sunday. However, according to Nashville Fire Department officials, the body does not match the description of Strain.
According to reports, Strain was asked to leave the bar on the evening of March 8 due to concerns about his level of drunkenness. Riley Strain, who had been in Nashville with his fraternity brothers, informed his companions that he was returning to the hotel, but he failed to show up.
On Friday, March 15, Luke Bryan, the country singer-songwriter and owner of Luke's 32 Bridge bar, took to social media to address Strain's visit to the establishment.
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) March 15, 2024
"During Riley's visit to Luke's 32 Bridge, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters. At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs," the group said.
The phone's last signal was detected between 10 and 10:30 p.m. His last known location was near the bar, specifically in the vicinity of Gay Street and James Robertson Parkway. This area is situated just a short distance away from the river and the Woodland Street Bridge.
On Monday, March 11, authorities conducted a preliminary search of the vicinity, which encompassed the banks of the nearby Cumberland River. However, their efforts yielded no significant findings.
Delta Chi recently took to Facebook to reach out to the public, seeking assistance in locating one of their fraternity brothers.
The Nashville police department shared video footage that captures Strain walking alone along Gay Street at approximately 9:50 p.m. He can be seen crossing 1st Avenue. In the video, Strain seems confused as he walks alongside other pedestrians.
Riley Strain abruptly halts on the sidewalk, briefly hesitates, and then retraces his steps before resuming his brisk stride along Gay Street. In a coordinated effort with the police, the Office of Emergency Management deployed a boat on Tuesday to search the Cumberland River for Strain.
On Wednesday, March 13, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission initiated an investigation into the alleged overserving of Strain at Luke's 32 Bridge. A vigil took place in Strain's hometown of Springfield, Missouri, where community members gathered at Kickapoo High School.
Chris Dingman, a close friend of Strain's family, addressed the large crowd of over 100 people who gathered for the vigil. Dingman mentioned that the thorough search in Nashville has encompassed a homeless camp in the vicinity.
"We did come across another individual experiencing homelessness who had direct interaction and a conversation with Riley," Dingman mentioned.
Two boats and sonar equipment were used in a search of the Cumberland River on Wednesday evening.
A fundraising campaign has been initiated and has already accumulated over $47,000. According to the description on the GoFundMe page, the funds raised will provide much-needed support to Strain's family by covering expenses for food, accommodations, and transportation during the ongoing search for the missing student.
According to the Nashville police department, investigators are currently awaiting the release of Strain's phone and Apple Watch records. They hope that these records will help them locate him.
Authorities are urging individuals with information regarding Riley Strain's disappearance to contact 615-862-8600.
