There may be more to learn about the death of University of Missouri student Riley Strain, whose body was pulled from a Nashville river in March, according to a report.
In what is being called a "huge" development by Strain's family, the last known person to have seen Strain alive has officially given a statement to the police.
Chris Dingman, a friend of the family's who is also acting as their de facto spokesperson said the witness in question spoke with the family first and then went to the police.
"That was huge. That was something we were looking for," Dingman said Tuesday on NewsNation's "Elizabeth Vargas Reports." "He told the detective his account of the story of what happened to Riley."
The witness in question was not named by Dingman and it was not disclosed precisely what the witness revealed about Strain regarding his disappearance and untimely death.
It was March 22 when the body of Riley Strain, 22, was found at the Cumberland River, two weeks after he was thrown out of a Nashville bar belonging to country star Luke Bryan.
While a preliminary autopsy report found that Strain died of accidental causes, the family themselves have expressed doubts.
When asked if they were looking for new evidence in the case because they don't believe that Strain just fell and drowned in the river, Dingman answered directly, "Correct. One hundred percent."
The Strain family ordered a second, private autopsy after it was found that the University of Missouri student showed no signs of water in his lungs, which is typically expected in drowning incidents.
Additionally, Dingman disclosed that they were also seeking to acquire further surveillance footage from the local jail, which is in the area where Strain was last seen. While only one camera has been made available to the public, others remain to be viewed.
"We would love to see the footage," Dingman verified. "We now do have confirmation that there were cameras pointing back toward the bridge where Riley went missing at."
