'Very heartbreaking': Internet upset as missing Missouri student Riley Strain is found dead in Nashville river after 2 weeks

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: University of Missouri student Riley Strain, 22, who went missing in Tennessee shortly before 10 pm on 8 March after he was kicked out of a bar in Nashville has been recovered dead from a river.

His body was found on Friday, March 22 around 7.30 am in Cumberland River, about 8 miles away from the Downtown Nashville area, as per the reports of Metro Nashville Police Department.

Workers found Riley Strain's body and alerted the police

Police Chief John Drake informed reporters that workers on the river first discovered Strain's body who then alerted the authorities.

Medical examiners later confirmed the identity as Strain, he stated and added that an autopsy is scheduled for later Friday.

“We have reports that normally under these circumstances... with his height and weight, he could have surfaced between 14 and 20 days,” Chief Drake said according to AP, adding “This is the 14th day. So we were really expecting to find him.”

Metro Nashville Police Department also confirmed the news on X, saying, "The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown. No foul play-related trauma was observed. An autopsy is pending."

Riley Strain was seen jogging toward  a river in Nashville

In the released surveillance footage Strain was seen stumbling through the downtown area soon after he was kicked out of Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink after drinking with friends during a fraternity trip to Nashville.

He was also recorded in the footage hitting his head on a pole and later holding his head.

One more bodycam footage taken minutes later showed him walking upright and briefly interacting with a police officer on a burglary call near Gay Street.

Police said Strain was not distressed during his brief encounter with the police officer.

According to reports, another unreleased footage showed him jogging in the opposite direction of his hotel as reported by New York Post.

Chris Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather who is in Nashville along with her wife Michelle Whiteid told News Nation earlier, “We got to see him walking. We got to see him kind of at a fast-paced walk, almost a jog. And it just shortened the last known window of sightings anyways."

The video was played to them on Sunday after his credit card was found, “It was the last known video of Riley. Basically from where the body camera footage was with the officer to just right before the James Robertson Bridge,” the stepfather said.

Police Chief Drake meanwhile said that his “heart and prayers” were going to the Strain family “for this very unfortunate and tragic accident.”

Internet heartbroken and angry at news of Riley Strain's death 

Internet reacted in rage as people shared they were heartbroken at the tragedy of Strain.

"So sad, but what we all assumed for awhile," wrote one on X, another added, "Bars need to start providing safe rides for people, since they profit off the intoxication and, as in this case, detriment of their customers."

"Such sad news. Rest In Peace Riley," wrote one more. "I was hoping this wouldn't be the outcome :(" another user added. 

One X user wrote, "Very sad story." Another lashed out, "How sad. Shame on his friends who let him leave alone in that condition. Friends like that a person doesn’t need any enemies, but that is the MO of alit fraternities. Keep drinking and not worry about friends in bad shape."

"A guy so drunk he falls in the water and dies but that an officer who encountered him couldn’t tell was drunk? Not even worth looking into huh?" a user questioned the police response. 

Another wrote,"Very heartbreaking news. Rest In Peace Riley"

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