Riley Strain updates: Preliminary autopsy suggests student’s death was ‘accidental’
The missing student’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River on Friday
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Your support makes all the difference.A preliminary autopsy has been completed on student Riley Strain’s body after he was recovered from Nashville, Tennessee’s Cumberland River this week.
The initial autopsy results suggest an accidental death, as there were no signs of foul play, police told WKRN. Authorities recovered his body Friday around eight miles from the downtown area where he was last seen.
Now, his family is thanking the Nashville community.
“I want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone and how much we appreciate everyone’s support, love and prayers,” Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, said.
“We are quite thankful for everything you’ve done — the grace you’ve given us,” Chris Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, said.
The 22-year-old University of Missouri student was partying with his fraternity in Nashville on 8 March when he was kicked out of a bar around 10pm. Strain’s bank card was found a week later near the river.
The discovery came after Mr Whiteid and family friend Chris Dingman told NewsNation police had shown them footage of what was believed to be Strain’s last known movements.
In the video, Strain was seen jogging close to the river, away from the direction of his hotel, they said.
Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river
Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death
What we know about the disappearance and death of University of Missouri student Riley Strain
Riley Strain seen in video footage approaching river bridge as witnesses reveal they saw him being sick
Mystery over Riley Strain’s last text as family friend pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory
ICYMI: Authorities find no evidence of foul play in death of Riley Strain
On Friday morning, authorities recovered Riley Strain’s body from the Cumberland River after he was missing for two weeks.
A nearby worker initially discovered his body when removing an object from the water.
Authorities then identified the 22-year-old college student, still wearing the black-and-white shirt he went missing in. There is no evidence of foul play, police said, but an autopsy is still pending.
Rescue service that helped find Riley Strain moves to different missing case
The United Cajun Navy, which helped authorities find and recover Riley Strain’s body on Friday, is now diverting resources to a missing child case, the organization said in a statement.
The non-profit dedicated to finding missing children will now assist in the case of 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers, who has been missing for five weeks, according to their statement.
The tragic case of Riley Strain and the TikTok sleuths who tried to find him
At one point, a debit card on a river embankment was the only major clue in the disappearance of University of Missouri student Riley Strain – and it was discovered by two TikTokkers.
Read more from The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier:
The tragic case of Riley Strain and the TikTok sleuths who tried to find him
Riley Strain’s body was found after an agonizing search that included both traditional law enforcement and self-styled social media sleuths. Family and friends of Strain largely welcomed their efforts — but do online detectives help or hinder such efforts? Andrea Cavallier reports
Country music star dedicates song to Riley Strain
Country music star Carly Pearce dedicated a song to Riley Strain while performing in Missouri, the state where the 22-year-old attended school.
“I do not feel like I can live in Nashville and be in the state of Missouri tonight and not say that we love you Riley Strain,” Ms Pearce said from the stage Friday night. “I just want to say that I’m thinking of his family and I’m thinking of his friends and anybody that knows him in this room that knows him. And I want to dedicate this to them.”
Ms Pearce posted about Strain earlier this week, just two days before his body was found.
Restaurant where Riley Strain last seen said they removed him due to “conduct standards”
Riley Strain was thrown out of a restaurant and bar owned by musician Luke Bryan just minutes before surveillance footage captured him alive for the last time.
Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, owned by Mr Bryan, issued a statement to CNN explaining why staff removed Strain from the premises.
“At 9:38 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.” The restaurant also told the outlet staff served Strain two waters and one alcoholic drink before he left.
Community came together to send police 200 tips since Riley Strain disappeared
In total, Nashville, Tennessee authorities received more than 200 tips in connection to the disappearance of Riley Strain since he vanished on 8 March.
Now that rescue crews have recovered his body from the Cumberland River, the Nashville community has again come together to mourn the 22-year-old.
‘Hug your babies tight tonight’: Family gives statement after Riley Strain’s body was recovered
Riley Strain’s parents and relatives gave an emotional statement on Friday evening, all wearing green — the student’s favourite colour.
Riley’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, gave an emotional address to members of the media after her son’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River.
“I just want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone, how much we appreciate everyone’s support,” Ms Whiteid said.
“I just ask that you mamas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please, for me,” she continued.
Nearby worker helped spot Riley Strain’s body
In a press briefing, Nashville police said that a worker spotted a body in the river around 7.28am that morning. The worker was removing an object from the river, when the body surfaced.
The Nashville Fire Department was called in to the scene and recovered the body from the water.
SEE IT: Last known footage of Riley Strain
Before authorities recovered his body from the Cumberland River, Riley Strain was last seen via surveillance footage after being asked to leave a bar earlier this month.
To honour Strain, his family and Nashville community members held a candlelight vigil on the same street shown in the footage.
Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death
Riley Strain, the 22-year-old University of Missouri student whose body was recovered from the Cumberland River on Friday, was missing for two weeks.
From The Independent, a timeline of Strain’s disappearance, including the last moments he was seen alive:
Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death
Nashville police said they do not believe there was any foul play in Riley Strain’s death
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