NASHVILLE, TN – The body of a University of Missouri senior, Riley Strain, who disappeared on March 8 was discovered on Friday, according to Nashville police. Strain’s remains were found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, approximately 8 miles from the city center. The police have reported that there were no signs of trauma related to foul play, and an autopsy is currently underway.
The discovery was made around 7:28 a.m. by a worker from a company located on 61st Avenue, adjacent to the Cumberland River. The worker was conducting a routine search for river debris when he noticed what appeared to be Strain. The fire department was subsequently called to retrieve the body, and the medical examiner’s office is now examining the remains. The Strain family has been notified of the tragic find.
Strain, a 22-year-old finance student, was last seen on the evening of March 8 in downtown Nashville. He was visiting the city for his fraternity’s spring formal trip. He had been socializing with friends at a downtown bar, Luke’s 32, owned by country music star Luke Bryan, when staff asked him to leave. His phone was last traced to Gay Street, which borders the Cumberland River.
In the course of their investigation, Nashville police released a video of Strain interacting with a police officer on Gay Street. The officer was investigating a reported vehicle burglary. The footage, captured just before Strain’s disappearance, shows no signs of distress.
The bar, Luke’s 32, confirmed in a statement that Strain was served one drink before being asked to leave due to conduct issues. After leaving the bar, Strain informed his friends that he planned to return to their accommodation at Tempo by Hilton, located five blocks away from the bar. When he failed to return, his friends reported him missing.
The circumstances that led Strain to walk in the opposite direction of his hotel remain unclear. Family spokesperson, Chris Dingman, suggested that Strain might have input the wrong destination into his phone’s map. However, authorities are exploring all possibilities. Strain’s family immediately flew to Nashville to participate in the search as soon as they were informed of his disappearance.