A 911 call reveals the heartbreaking moment missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain was found dead in a river, two weeks after his disappearance gripped the country.
Last Friday, the 22-year-old was pulled from the Cumberland River in Nashville after an extensive search.
It was found by a worker from a local construction materials company unloading barges into the river.
The man, clearly shaken, begins to tell the 911 operator what he saw in the newly released audio.
‘My company works on the river. I just found a dead body’ before adding: ‘I think it’s Riley.’
A 911 call reveals the heartbreaking moment missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain was found dead in a river, two weeks after his disappearance gripped the country.
The dispatcher then asks what the body looks like.
‘He’s definitely a person here. Black shirt, somewhat white, with a muddy look on the front, ‘says the unidentified worker. He is face down in the water. Caucasian.’
“He is completely submerged, plus his back is sticking out of the water,” the worker continued.
“I had to remove a log of the head to confirm that it was a body,” he adds.
This is consistent with what Police Chief John Drake told reporters about the discovery of Riley’s body at a news conference last Friday.
‘While removing an object from the river, they noticed what appeared to be Riley Strain appear.
‘The medical examiner examined the body and confirmed that it was Riley Strain.
‘The family has been contacted, according to the examination carried out here on the river bank there are no signs of crime at this time.
Last Friday, the 22-year-old was pulled from the Cumberland River in Nashville after an extensive search.
It was found by a worker from a local construction materials company unloading barges into the river.
The caller worked with a company called Holcin’s located near the river when he called
‘Mister. Strain still had the shirt he was wearing, he still had the watch. “I want to tell the family that my heart and prayers go out to all of you over this very unfortunate and tragic incident.”
The Delta Chi fraternity member was in Tennessee on a trip for their annual spring party when he was kicked out of the bar shortly after 9:30 p.m.
Strain had told his friends that he would meet them at their hotel.but he was nowhere to be found when the group returned from their night out.
His friends tried to contact him but received no response and reported Strain missing as they were unable to locate him via his Snapchat location.
Surveillance footage collected by police from Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church Street.
The apparently intoxicated student was wearing a black and brown two-tone shirt and blue jeans and fell, then quickly got up and continued down the street.
Another camera captured him near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North just before 10 pm taking long strides with his head down as he stumbled through the streets.
The student had reportedly FaceTimed with his mother, Michelle Whiteid, that night and she said nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Strain, 22, was last seen on March 8 at Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink on Broadway, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Agents had been searching the Cumberland River and a dam looking for Strain.
Authorities said no trauma related to foul play was observed on Strain, who was last seen on March 8.
Whiteid spoke through tears at a news conference Friday night.
“I’m just asking you moms to hold your babies tight tonight, please,” she said.
She echoed the words of her husband Chris, Riley’s stepfather, and the 22-year-old’s father, Ryan Gilbert, about how much they appreciated the support from across the country.
‘Please, for me, hold your babies tight tonight. And again, thank you. Thank you for sharing our story.’
Despite previous criticism from the family, Gilbert thanked the Metro Nashville Police Department for their efforts, as well as volunteers from the United Cajun Navy.
“It’s just amazing what they’ve done for us,” Gilbert said.
Stepfather Chris thanked the entire Nashville community for their help in trying to find RIley.
“It has been a roller coaster of emotions. We are so grateful for everything you have done for our family. The grace you have given us means so much, more than you will ever imagine.
Michelle Strain Whiteid, the heartbroken mother of Riley Strain has broken her silence at a press conference just hours after her 22-year-old son was found dead in a river eight miles from where he disappeared in Nashville.
Stepfather Chris thanked the entire Nashville community for their help in trying to find RIley.
He was grateful to the city, which will hold a candlelight vigil on Gay Street, where Riley was last seen, on Friday night.
“To the people of Nashville, I can’t thank you enough for the support, love and encouragement you have shown me and my wife,” Chris said.
“You don’t understand how much that meant to us in some of our darkest hours.”