The remains of Riley Strain, a college student who had been missing, were found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville on Friday morning after a search lasting two weeks, as reported by Nashville police.
Authorities stated that there were no signs of trauma related to foul play. An autopsy is scheduled for the future.
Strain, aged 22 and a senior at the University of Missouri, disappeared on March 8 after spending an evening at various bars in Nashville. He was in Nashville with his fraternity, Delta Chi, for their formal event.
Strain was kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge bar after deemed overly intoxicated. Country star and owner of Luke's 32 Bridge Bar, Luke Bryans issued a public statement praying for the student's safe return.He urged his fans to share any information they may have that could help authorities on Strain's whereabouts. He was found about 8 miles from the downtown area.
Strain had told his fraternity brothers that night that he planned to go back to their hotel.
While the friends were out that night, Strain FaceTimed his mom and didn't sound intoxicated, Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid recalled.Strain and his mother exchanged more texts after the call, Whiteid said.
The last text Strain sent to his mom that night was, "I love you."
Earlier this week, two women who were live streaming their search for Strain along the riverbank via Tik Tok stumbled upon his debit card.
"S-. I found his credit card," one of them said. The other asked, "You found his credit card?"
They then announced on the livestream, "We found his credit card. We gotta go. We gotta hang up the phone."
A family friend, Chris Dingman later confirmed it was in fact Strain's debit card that was found.
Surveillance cameras and police body cameras captured Strain's last known movements from about 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. before authorities located his body earlier today.
