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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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.
Community response to Riley Strain’s death
Just hours after Strain’s body was recovered, Nashville residents came together to hold a candlelight vigil for the 22-year-old.
The event was on Gay Street, the last place Strain was seen before his disappearance.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also urged residents and visitors to be cautious and to be mindful of each other in the city in the wake of Strain’s death.
“I think this is an important reminder to everyone to also look out for one another,” Mr O’Connell said during a Friday morning meeting. “You know, I think some of this is just about how we as a city look after each other as neighbors and as people interacting in the entertainment district.”
A Nashville city council member representing the city’s downtown district said he is planning to secure the area of the river where Strain is believed to have slipped into the water.
He issued a statement on Friday after news broke that Strain’s body had been found in the river.
“My heart breaks for Riley’s family and friends,” District 19 city councillor Jacob Kupin said. “Since his disappearance, I have been actively working on steps to secure the river area where he likely fell. We will continue these efforts to make sure his death was not in vain.”
ICYMI: Restaurant where Riley Strain was last seen removed the student 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 Bryan’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink 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.
A nearby worker helped spot Riley Strain’s body in the Cumberland River
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: Candlelight vigil held for Riley Strain after authorities recovered his body
ICYMI: Riley Strain’s body was still in his distinctive shirt
Riley Strain was still wearing his distinctive shirt when his body was pulled from the river, police said.
On the night he was last seen in downtown Nashville, Strain was sporting a monochrome shirt.
Since his disappearance, reports have emerged that a homeless man had found a shirt matching the description close to the river bank and was later seen wearing it.
But, in the press conference on Friday morning, police said that Strain was still wearing his shirt and watch – and that these items helped to identify him.
‘Hug your babies tight tonight’: Watch as mother 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.
Riley Strain had visited Nashville before his death
Riley Strain had been visiting Nashville from the University of Missouri, known as Mizzou, with his fraternity when he disappeared.
The Delta Chi group was on its annual spring trip. The fraternity said that it and the university were actively involved with the search that ultimately resulted in authorities finding Strain’s body in the Cumberland River.
It was reported that Strain, a senior, had made the trip to Nashville before. His mother and stepfather are from Springfield, Missouri, around 160 miles from the college campus in Columbia.
ICYMI: Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river
Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river
Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River
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 TikTokers.
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
Preliminary autopsy reveals no signs of foul play
Police told Nashville, Tennessee outlet WKRN that a preliminary autopsy had been completed on Riley Strain’s body.
As police initially said when they recovered Strain’s body, the preliminary findings continue to support that there was no foul play involved in the 22-year-old’s death.
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