Missing Missouri student: TWRA aids in Riley Strain search along river
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As crews assisted on day 12 of the search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency offered up boat patrols to look through various areas of the Cumberland River.
The TWRA launched one of its boats from the Rock Harbor Marina on Wednesday. Lt. Eric Anderson explained some of the variables that can affect a water search.
SEE ALSO: Officials focusing Riley Strain search efforts on Cheatham Dam
“In a recovery effort situation, a river system’s going to have a varying river level, depending on weather, the water temperature can impact how those things develop, and also debris in the water, things that float down the river that can affect our search efforts with boats, so there’s just a lot of things and the Cumberland River goes through Davidson County for several miles, so it’s a lot of area to keep an eye on and be safe while we’re searching,” Anderson said.
Anderson said for this time of year, river levels and flow seemed pretty normal. Water temperatures can also affect a search and the way things rise. For now, Anderson said waters were cool, but he expects temperatures to rise in the near future.
The TWRA said they are also patrolling the river for any personal watercraft looking to assist with the search to make sure those efforts are being done safely and not interfering with law enforcement.
‘Everybody deserves answers’: Volunteers put up flyers in search for Riley Strain
Anderson said his agency will cotinue to put thier best foot forward in the search for Strain, hoping to get answers for his family.
“There’s a lot of factors, but this one in particular, I have a son, I have family, I would like to believe that if something like this happened to one of them everybody would jump on board and want to make these same efforts, so just empathetic to what they’re going through,” Anderson said. “All of our officers always run and raise their hand to help out with something like this so that we can help out our community and families.”
Riley Strain Continuing Coverage | The latest in the search for the missing Missouri student
University of Missouri student Riley Strain disappeared while on a fraternity trip in Nashville on March 8.
Strain is 6-feet, 5-inches tall, with a slender build, blonde hair, and blue eyes, according to his family. If you see Strain or have any information about where he may be, you are asked to call the MNPD at 615-862-8600.
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