A body found in a river in West Nashville on Friday morning has been confirmed to be missing University of Missouri student Riley Strainthe Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said.
Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville, about 8 miles from downtown, police said in a statement. social media.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake said at a news conference that “there is no other evidence to suggest anything other than” Strain falling into the river, noting that he still had his clothes, watch and other identifying items on. .
Police added that no “crime-related trauma was observed” and an autopsy is pending. Strain’s family has been informed, Drake said.
Strain, 22, disappeared during a fraternity trip to Nashville and was last seen on March 8, shortly after being expelled from Luke’s 32 Bridge, a bar owned by country singer Luke Bryan. The bar said its records show he ordered an alcoholic drink and two glasses of water.
Surveillance video showed Strain walking alone in downtown Nashville. He was last seen around 9:52 p.m. The friends he was with reported him missing shortly after 1:30 am.
In recent days, the search for Strain has focused on area waterways after him debit card was found along a Nashville River. Officials first focused on the central section of the Cumberland River before expanding the search to include more parts of the river, including Cheatham Dam, which is about 40 miles from downtown Nashville. The search involved helicopters, boats and ground teams. Police also closed the dam to inspect debris that floated to the surface, CBS affiliate TVF reported.
Strain’s body was found by workers at a company on the riverbank shortly after 7 a.m., Drake said.
“They removed something from the river and as they moved it, they noticed Mr. Strain and called him out,” Drake said. The police chief said officers planned to search this area of the river today, noting that due to Strain’s height and weight, it was believed his body could surface in the area soon.
Drake said the police department received more than 200 tips during the search for Strain and thanked the community for their efforts to find him. He also said his “heart and prayers go out” to Strain’s family.
The Cumberland River is a major waterway that runs more than 680 miles through Kentucky and Tennessee. Several dams dot the river.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has been working with the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office to conduct operations downstream. The Cajun United Navy, a volunteer humanitarian relief organization, also participated in the search.
This story was originally published by CBS News on March 22, 2024 at 11:23 pm ET.
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