Police find Missouri student Riley Strain’s body in Tennessee river; no foul play suspected

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who went missing in Tennessee’s capital for nearly two weeks, has been found dead in a river, police said Friday.

No foul play is suspected, investigators said.

Metro Nashville police officials confirmed that Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River about 8 miles west of downtown around 7:30 a.m.

Police Chief John Drake told reporters that workers on the river found Strain’s body and alerted authorities.

Medical examiners later confirmed that it was Strain, he said, adding that an autopsy will be conducted later Friday.

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

Strain, 22, was last seen just before 10 p.m. on March 8 after drinking downtown.

A massive search was quickly launched, with just small clues available to investigators, who found his bank card along a riverbank and used surveillance footage to track his final moments.

University of Missouri officials said Strain was traveling to Nashville to attend a private event.

Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, have been in Nashville after learning about his disappearance.

“I just need to know where my son is,” Michelle Whiteid initially told outlets. “We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without talking to him. It’s devastating. I just want to find him and hug him.”

Drake said his “heart and prayers” were going to Strain’s family “for this very unfortunate and tragic accident.”