Riley Strain: Timeline from student's disappearance until his body was found in Nashville

Ahjané Forbes, Kirsten Fiscus, Evan Mealins and Diana Leyva, USA TODAY
Updated ·5 min read
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Two weeks after missing University of Missouri (Mizzou) student Riley Strain was last seen, his body was found in the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee.

Strain, 22, was last seen on Friday March 8. Strain traveled to Nashville to attend the annual spring formal for his fraternity Delta Chi, University of Missouri Associate Director of Public Affairs Travis Zimpher told USA TODAY.

After friends could not locate him after trying to reach him via phone and social media, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department was contacted to help locate him.

Search crews looked for Strain from March 9 until his body was located on March 22.

Riley Strain found: Missouri communities mourn after Riley Strain's body found in Nashville's Cumberland River

Family and friends gather for vigil after Riley Strain's body was found

A candlelight vigil was held Friday under the James Robertson Parkway bridge on Gay Street, a location near where Strain was last seen, to remember and honor Strain's life.

More than 50 people gathered under the bridge to pray and support Strain's family as they cherish the memories they have of the 22-year-old.

“God, we don’t understand this fully,” Spencer Maige said during an opening prayer, “… but we do know you allow love to shine through in the darkest times.”

Others attendees thanked those who searched for Strain. Chris Dingman, a family friend to the Strain family, said the family was appreciative of the love and support.

“I can’t emphasize how much the family appreciated this,” Dingman said.

Strain's family also wanted to thank the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for their search efforts.

"You've helped us, let us take our boy home," Ryan Gilbert, Strain's father, started.

Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid, then stepped up to the microphone, letting out a sigh.

"We're ready for this to be over with," he said. "To the people of Nashville, I can't thank you enough for the support, the love, the encouragement that you've shown...in some of our darkest hours. The hugs, the prayers, the offers. I can't say it enough. Thank you."

Strain's mother, Michelle Whiteid, had a simple message.

"I just ask that you mommas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please." she said. "Please for me. Hug your babies tight tonight."

Here's a timeline of Riley Strain's disappearance until his body was discovered:

Timeline of Riley Strain's disappearance until his body was found

Friday, March 8: Strain calls his mom around 7:30 p.m. to check-in. During the FaceTime call Strain tells his mom that he was, "having a good time" while out with friends, according to an article by WKRN. Strain was last seen by his friends after he got kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge, a rooftop bar with live music, according to a missing person's report. Nashville police say Strain was last seen on Gay Street at 9:52 p.m. After not hearing from Strain, his friends tried to contact him through social media apps and by calling his cellphone, according to police.

Monday, March 11: Officials started an initial search of the area, including the banks of the nearby Cumberland River, but did not find anything.

Delta Chi shared a Facebook post asking for the public's help to locate their fraternity brother.

Tuesday, March 12: The Nashville police department released video footage showing Strain walking by himself along Gay Street around 9:50 p.m. and crossing 1st Avenue. In the video, Strain appears disoriented as he walks alongside other pedestrians. After stopping on the sidewalk, pausing for a moment and then walking towards the direction he came from, Strain swiftly turns around and continues to walk down Gay Street. The Office of Emergency Management also launched a boat Tuesday to search the Cumberland River for Strain in a coordinated effort with police.

Wednesday, March 13:  The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission launched an investigation into whether Luke's 32 Bridge overserved Strain. A vigil was held in Strain's hometown of Springfield, Missouri where community members gathered at Kickapoo High School. Chris Dingman, a close friend of Strain's family, spoke to the more than 100 people who attended the vigil. Dingman said the extensive Nashville search has included a nearby homeless camp. "We did find another homeless person who had physical contact and a conversation with Riley," Dingman said. A Wednesday evening search of the Cumberland River included two boats and sonar equipment. A GoFundMe was started and has raised more than $47,000, at the time. A description on the GoFundMe states that the money will help Strain's family with money for food, hotels and travel as the search for the missing student continues.

Thursday, March 14: The Nashville police department said Thursday afternoon that investigators are waiting for the release of Strain's phone and Apple Watch records in the hopes of tracking him down.

Friday, March 15: Country singer-songwriter Luke Bryan, owner of bar Luke's 32 Bridge, posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday regarding Strain's time spent at the bar.

"During Riley's visit to Luke's 32 Bridge, our records shows that he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters," Bryan said in the statement. "At 9:35 p.m., our security team was made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs."

Sunday, March 17: Nashville police say they have discovered Strain's bank card near the Cumberland River.

Monday, March 18: Nashville police released body camera footage of Strain from the night he went missing.

Tuesday, March 19: Strain's family holds press conference in Nashville asking the United Cajun Navy to help find Strain.

Friday, March 22: Strain's body is found on Friday morning in the Cumberland River in West Nashville approximately eight miles from downtown. An autopsy will be conducted to determine Strain's cause of death.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Riley Strain found: Timeline of his disappearance to tragic discovery