University of Missouri student Riley Strain was found dead in a Nashville river in what appears to be an accidental death according to a preliminary autopsy conducted by Metropolitan Nashville police. Toxicology results and a final autopsy report are still pending, but there is currently no evidence of foul play in Strain’s death.
Strain, a 22-year-old student, went missing earlier this month after being kicked out of a Nashville bar. He was visiting Music City with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers when he vanished after leaving Luke Bryan’s honky-tonk bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, on March 8. Strain’s family initially suggested that he had been over-served with alcohol, but the bar’s operators stated that he had only consumed one alcoholic beverage and two drinks of water before being asked to leave based on his behavior.
After leaving the bar, Strain was reportedly captured on video crossing Gay Street, around a 17-minute walk from Luke’s 32 Bridge. A homeless man claimed to have seen Strain, who appeared to be “very, very intoxicated,” almost falling over the edge of a trail into the river. Despite these reports, Metropolitan Nashville police have not found any evidence of criminal activity in relation to Strain’s death.
Following the discovery of Strain’s body in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, his mother, Michelle Whiteid, pleaded for people to hug their loved ones tightly. Strain’s fraternity, Delta Chi, expressed their grief over the loss of their beloved brother and provided support to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. The fraternity emphasized the impact of Strain’s passing on the entire community and promised to offer resources and assistance to all those affected by the tragedy.
With the toxicology results and final autopsy report still pending, the circumstances surrounding Riley Strain’s death remain unclear. The police have not found any evidence of foul play, and the initial autopsy indicates the death was accidental. As the investigation continues, Strain’s family, friends, and fraternity brothers mourn his loss and remember him as a bright and cherished member of their community. The tragic passing of Riley Stain serves as a reminder to hold loved ones close and cherish every moment together.
