Riley Strain’s death was “accidental” with no foul play, according to a preliminary autopsy conducted by police after the 22-year-old’s body was found in a river on Friday.
Strain disappeared on March 8 after he was kicked out of Luke’s Bridge Food + Drink during a fraternity trip to Nashville, Tennessee.
A massive two-week search ended when workers found her body in the Cumberland River eight miles from where she disappeared.
On Saturday, the Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 that a preliminary autopsy had been completed and concluded his death was “accidental” with no indication of foul play.
It is still unclear what the exact cause of death was or why Strain was in the river.
Strain’s family, who had traveled from Missouri to Nashville for the search, shared the news that he had been found on Friday. His mother, Michelle, said: “I’m just asking you moms to hold your babies tight tonight please.”
In a statement, Nashville police confirmed that the body pulled this morning from the Cumberland River was that of the missing 22-year-old.
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.
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 the family previously criticizing police, 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.
“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.
Despite previous criticism from the family, Gilbert thanked the Metro Nashville Police Department for their efforts, as well as the volunteer United Cajun Navy.
Stepfather Chris thanked the entire Nashville community for their help in trying to find Riley.
“You don’t understand how much that meant to us in some of our darkest hours.”
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.
Earlier this week, his bank card was found near the Cumberland River and rescue crews were also seen scouring a dam 40 miles from where he was last seen.
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.
At a press conference on Friday morning, Chief John Drake told reporters: ‘This morning at around 7:28am we received a call from a worker.
‘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.
Authorities said no trauma related to foul play was observed on Strain, who was last seen on March 8.
‘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.
‘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.”
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.
His mother and stepfather Chris Whiteid have been in town since the search began, and Chris told reporters earlier this week that the family had begun preparing for the worst.
Whiteid said: ‘Put yourself in our shoes. Everybody knows. Everyone is thinking about it. Those conversations are starting to happen. It’s not what we want.
Michelle Strain Whiteid, left, and her husband, Chris Whiteid, speak to the media during a press conference earlier this week.
Strain, 22, was last seen on March 8 at Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink on Broadway, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Surveillance footage released by Nashville police shows him staggering and appearing confused as he crossed a closed road near the water.
And I understand that people want to know what we feel. We feel frustrated, hurt, depressed. No one knows what happened to Riley.
Her parents previously said cops trashed the investigation into her disappearance, as more tips seemed to come from the public than from officers.
The parents’ criticism of police comes after TikTokers found crucial evidence that investigators failed to uncover more than a week after Strain disappeared.
Anna Clemdening and Brandy Baenen had been scavenging along the riverbank when they located Strain’s bank card.
“My stomach dropped,” Clendening said, describing the moment he turned the card over to reveal Strain’s name. “My innate reaction was to say, ‘Let’s keep looking.’
Agents have since defended their search efforts. ‘When we start a missing person investigation, we are looking for a person. We’re not looking for small pieces of evidence,” Sgt. Robert Nielsen said during a news conference.
‘Can we miss some things? Sure. But our main goal is to find Mr. Strain and bring him home safely.
Police previously shared X-rated footage showing Strain walking on the sidewalk alongside an officer, who appeared to be inspecting a car with a broken window.
Another camera caught near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North just before 10 pm striding with his head down.
Agents had been searching the Cumberland River and a dam looking for Strain.
In a social media post Friday morning, the United Cajun Navy ordered all personnel to “clear all channels and stand down” shortly after news of a body recovery broke.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) shared a video Tuesday showing one of its helicopters flying over the Cheatham Dam.
WTVF reported that officials closed the dam to inspect any debris floating to the surface, but found nothing related to the strain.
David Flagg, director of operations for the United Cajun Army, told the outlet: “Somehow, Riley may have fallen into the river and been swept away by the current.” The current was very, very fast the day it disappeared.
In a post on its social media Friday morning, the United Cajun Navy ordered all personnel to “clear all channels and stand down” shortly after news of a body recovery broke.
