A little over two weeks ago, 22-year-old Riley Strain – a student at the University of Missouri – was at Luke’s 32 Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., when he was escorted out of the venue due to behavior conduct standards.
This Friday, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced that Strain’s body had been recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville, around 8 miles from the downtown area of the city.
“No foul play-related trauma was observed,” said the department. “An autopsy is pending.”
According to KMOX, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said Strain was found by workers removing an object from the river. Authorities said it appears that Strain fell into the river and drowned. He was wearing the clothes he wore the night of his disappearance (March 8), including his watch.
“We have reports that normally under these circumstances... with his height and weight, he could have surfaced between 14 and 20 days,” Drake said. “This is the 14th day. So we were really expecting to find him.”
A March 11 press release from the University of Missouri said that Strain was in Nashville to attend a private event.
“Counseling resources are available to the campus community, including the Wellness Resource Center and the Counseling Center within the Division of Student Affairs and the Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff,” said the university.
Luke’s 32 Bridge said in a Facebook post that it helped police with the investigation with security camera footage, photos of Riley, with detailed time stamps, transaction records, and staff accounts. It said that Strain purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters.
“At 9:35 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 the building,” said the post. “He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.”
The Tennessean reported that more than 50 people gathered for a candlelight vigil Friday night under the James Robertson Parkway bridge on Gay Street. That’s near to where Strain was last seen.
“Our prayers continue to be with Riley’s friends and family,” said Luke’s 32 Bridge on March 11.