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Riley Strain updates: Preliminary autopsy suggests student’s death was ‘accidental’

The missing student’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River on Friday

Riley Strain’s mother speaks out after his body is recovered

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.

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FULL STORY: Body found during search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain

Police have located the body of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain in West Nashville after he disappeared two weeks ago.

Mr Strain’s body was pulled from the Cumberland River, approximately 8 miles from downtown Nashville.

Police said an initial analysis of Mr Strain’s body showed no evidence that of foul play, and that an autopsy is pending.

Read the full story:

Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river

Mr Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River

Rachel Sharp22 March 2024 14:53
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FULL STORY: Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river

Police have located the body of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain in West Nashville after he disappeared two weeks ago.

Mr Strain’s body was pulled from the Cumberland River, approximately 8 miles from downtown Nashville.

Police said an initial analysis of Mr Strain’s body showed no evidence that of foul play, and that an autopsy is pending.

Read the full story:

Body found during search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain

Mr Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River

Rachel Sharp22 March 2024 14:50
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Nashville police confirm body belongs to missing Riley Strain

Nashville police have now confirmed that the body belongs to missing Riley Strain.

“The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown,” the department said.

“No foul play-related trauma was observed. An autopsy is pending.”

Rachel Sharp22 March 2024 14:39
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BREAKING: Body found in search for missing student Riley Strain

A body has been found in the search for missing student Riley Strain.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed to CBS News on Friday morning that a body was located in West Nashville.

Police said they are yet to confirm the identity of the body.

Rachel Sharp22 March 2024 14:28
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Cumberland River current was ‘very swift’ on the day Riley Strain disappeared, Cajun Navy director says

David Flagg, the director of the United Cajun Navy, a disaster relief and search and rescue group volunteering in the search for Riley Strain, told local reporters that the Cumberland River’s current was moving quickly on the day the student disappeared.

“Somehow, Riley may have fallen into the river and was swept away by the current,” Mr Flagg told WTVF. “The current was very, very swift on the day that he disappeared.”

Police searched Cheatham Dam yesterday for any sign of Mr Strain, but did not find any evidence of the student.

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 14:00
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Riley Strain seen in video footage approaching river bridge as witnesses reveal they saw him being sick

New surveillance footage containing images of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain on the night of his disappearance in Nashville has been found, according to family friend Chris Dingman.

Chris Whiteid, Mr Strain’s stepfather, said the new footage shows the student walking toward the James Robertson Parkway bridge, which spans the Cumberland River. He revealed the details to NewsNation.

The bridge is in the opposite direction of Mr Strain’s hotel. It is unclear why he was walking in that direction.

READ MORE:

New surveillance footage showed Riley Strain near Nashville bridge, family says

The footage has not yet been released by the police in Nashville

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 13:30
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Missing Riley Strain’s stepfather says family is having difficult conversations: ‘Put yourself in our shoes’

Riley Strain’s family told reporters that they’ve begun having hard conversations about the possible fate of the missing University of Missouri student.

It has been nearly two weeks since Mr Strain disappeared from Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge bar in Nashville. He has not been heard from since. There have been no known sightings, no phone calls, and no cries for help.

Christ Whiteid, Mr Strain’s stepfather, said he and the rest of the family are aware that, at present, the chances that the 22-year-old will be found alive are slim.

READ MORE:

Riley Strain’s stepfather says family is having hard conversations

The family said their priority is still to find the student alive

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 13:00
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New witnesses reveal encounter with Missouri student Riley Strain on night he went missing

New witnesses have come forward to reveal that they encountered missing student Riley Strain on the night he went missing.

Chris Dingman, a close friend of the 22-year-old’s family, spoke with NewsNation on Wednesday – almost two weeks on from his 8 March disappearance.

Mr Dingman revealed that a couple, who are parents themselves, had been in touch with Mr Strain’s family to say that they spoke to the student that night.

READ MORE:

New witnesses reveal encounter with student Riley Strain on night he went missing

Couple says they checked that student wasn’t planning to drive that night

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 12:00
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A view of the dam where police searched for Riley Strain

Police searched the Cheatham Dam in hopes of locating Riley Strain on Wednesday.

Local news broadcaster WKRN was on site during the seach and shared a short clip showing the dam where the search was focused.

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 11:00
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Mystery over Riley Strain’s last text as family friend pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory

The mystery surrounding Riley Strain’s last text message continues after a family friend poured cold water on online theories about its meaning.

Search efforts have so far fallen flat with no trace of the missing 22-year-old other than the discovery of his bank card, which was found near the Cumberland River in Nashville over one week after he was last seen.

READ MORE:

Mystery over Riley Strain last text as family pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory

A family friend of missing student Riley Strain dismissed one theory about the meaning of his final text

Graig Graziosi22 March 2024 09:00

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