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: Mystery over Riley Strain’s last text as family friend pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory
Before his body was found, a family friend poured cold water on online theories about the meaning of Riley Strain’s last text message.
University of Missouri student went missing shortly before 10 pm on 8 March after he was kicked out of a bar in Nashville and became separated from his friends.
As information emerged about Strain’s last known movements, family friend Chris Dingman revealed the final text message the student sent.
He told NewsNation Strain sent a confusing text to a girl he was speaking with who “texted him to see how he was doing”. Strain responded with: “Good lops.”
Read more from The Independent:
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
ICYMI: 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.
Riley Strain’s family thank Nashville community for love and grace
“I want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone and how much we appreciate everyone’s support, love and prayers,” Riley Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, said.
“I just ask that you mamas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please, for me,” she continued.
Their words came at Friday evening press conference, just hours after authorities recovered 22-year-old Strain’s body from the Cumberland River.
“We are quite thankful for everything you’ve done — the grace you’ve given us,” Chris Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, said. “We have learned through this ordeal that everybody has brought all the good to us. We’ve had a little bad, but it has given us faith in people that sometimes gets clouded by what we are constantly hearing.”
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
SEE IT: Candlelight vigil honouring Riley Strain in Nashville
Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death
Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death
Nashville police said they do not believe there was any foul play in Riley Strain’s death
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: 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.
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
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