Body of missing student Riley Strain recovered from Cumberland River in Nashville: Latest updates
The body of missing student Riley Strain has been found in a river in Nashville, Tennessee two weeks after he went missing.
The student’s body was recovered on Friday morning from the Cumberland River, around eight miles from the downtown area where he was last seen, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said.
“I just ask that you mamas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please, for me,” Riley’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, said Friday night.
No signs of foul play-related trauma were discovered, according to authorities, although an autopsy is still to be completed.
The 22-year-old, who attended the University of Missouri, had been partying with his fraternity brothers in Nashville on 8 March when he was kicked out of a bar around 10pm. Strain’s bank card was found a week later close to the river bank.
The tragic discovery comes after Strain’s stepfather, Chris Whiteid, and family friend, Chris Dingman, told NewsNation that police had shown them footage of what was believed to be his last known movements.
In the video, Strain was seen jogging close to the river – and away from the direction of his hotel, they said.
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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 18:40
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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 18:20
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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 18:00
‘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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 17:40
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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 17:00
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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 16:40
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:
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 16:20
ICYMI: Nashville mayor tells residents to ‘look out for one another’
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell urged residents and visitors to be cautious and to be mindful of each other in the city in the wake of Riley 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.”
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 16:01
WATCH: Riley Strain’s mother speaks out after his body is recovered
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 15:40
Rescue service that helped find Riley Strain moves on to missing child 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.
Katie Hawkinson23 March 2024 15:20