WSMV
Riley Strain's missing poster is seen.
CNN
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The body of a University of Missouri student who went missing after leaving a downtown Nashville bar two weeks ago was found Friday in the Cumberland River, police said. There were no signs of foul play.
Riley Strain, 22, was on a weekend trip to Tennessee on March 8 when she was kicked out of country singer Luke Bryan's bar, Luke's 32 Bridge, authorities said.
Strain's friends and family have been unable to contact him since then, and police searches have been unsuccessful.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said Friday that Strain's body was found around 7:30 a.m. local time after officers in the area discovered it.
Mr Drake said there was “no evidence to suggest anything” other than that the young man fell into the river.
Drake said the coroner's office confirmed it was Strain, adding that the shirt, watch and other “identifying elements” helped police identify him. Drake said an autopsy is underway and Strain's family has been contacted.
Metro Nashville Police Department
riley strain
Police said the body was recovered in a river about 13 miles from downtown.
Drake said police planned to search the area where the body was found Friday morning.
“Normally, under these conditions, there are reports that given his height and weight, he could have surfaced within 14 to 20 days. Today is the 14th day, so I hope he is found soon. I was really looking forward to it,” Drake said.
“So we were in the right place. It's just unfortunate,” the chief added.
According to the police department's social media, Strain was last seen on Gay Street on March 8 at 9:52 p.m. after drinking alcohol downtown. post.
“The bartender said he was overserved,” Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid, told CNN affiliate WZTV. “He was trying to pay his taxes.”
Strain's ATM card was found on an embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River, Nashville police Said Sunday.
On Monday, the department released body camera footage of Strain's encounter with officers the night he disappeared.
The department said the video showed Strain “briefly exchanging greetings with Officer Reginald Young on Gay Street south of the Woodland Street Bridge.”
“Riley did not appear to be in distress. Officer Young responded to a report of a vehicle burglary and remained on that portion of Gay Street for 45 minutes. According to social media posts, Riley appeared to be in distress just after the 9:52 p.m. No video has been found of him leaving Gay Street.
Police previously released surveillance video showing Strain, wearing a two-tone shirt, crossing the road at 9:47 p.m., and searched the area by ground and helicopter.
According to the police report, Strain's cell phone was turned off by the time police searched for him, but Verizon Wireless said the cell phone's last known location was in Oldham. It was less than a mile from a cell tower at 19 Street. Police said they searched the area without success.
In an Instagram post last week, Brian said he was praying for Strain's safe return.
Luke's 32 Bridge told CNN in a statement that Strain was served one alcoholic beverage and two glasses of water while at the bar.
“At 9:38 p.m., our security team made the decision, based on our standards of conduct, to escort him from the venue through the Broadway exit in front of our building,” the statement said. He added that he followed Mr. Strain down the stairs. Members of his party returned upstairs without leaving the bar.
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said in a statement that it is investigating.
Aaron Ramage, the commission's director of legislation, policy and communications, said in a statement: “There are no special rules or statutes that require intoxicated patrons to be removed from a establishment or provided assistance returning home. No,” he said.
“However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to a clearly intoxicated person. The violation is a Class A misdemeanor. We have started an investigation.”
The University of Missouri said in a statement that Strain was in Nashville to attend a private event and added that university officials have been in contact with his family and Nashville authorities.
Strain's stepfather said her disappearance was the family's worst nightmare.
“He talks to his mother three or four times a day,” he told WZTV. “It's not normal for him to go this long without speaking.”
“He's my baby,” Strain's mother, Michelle Whyid, told the station.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
