In Nashville, Tennessee, a significant lead has emerged in the search for Riley Strain, a University of Missouri college student who disappeared earlier this month while on a visit to Nashville. This development came to light on Sunday.
Authorities have found Riley Strain’s bank card. It was discovered on Sunday on a slope between Gay Street and the Cumberland River, close to Riverfront Park. This update was shared by the Nashville Police on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. They emphasized that the search for him is still ongoing.
Riley Strain’s visit to Nashville took a worrying turn on Friday, March 8. That night, after being ejected from a bar on Gay Street in the city’s Broadway area, he went missing, according to Nashville police.
The last time Strain’s friends saw him was at 9:52 p.m. that night. He had just been removed from Luke Bryan’s bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, as per police reports.
Strain, along with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers, was in Nashville for a formal event, his parents have shared.
“Riley was really looking forward to the outing. He kept sending me pictures from the different bars they visited. He seemed to be enjoying his time with his fraternity brothers,” his mom, Michelle Whiteid, recounted to ABC News.
Surveillance footage from a business nearby captured Strain walking alone, appearing to stumble down a street at 9:46 p.m. Another camera angle showed him running and then falling.
At a news conference on March 14, Nashville Police Sgt. Robert Nielsen mentioned that there’s no evidence suggesting foul play or that Strain had been involved in any altercation or argument that night.
The most recent surveillance video available shows Strain walking north between the James Robertson Bridge and Woodland Street Bridge, with no one else in sight, Nielsen added.
The search efforts for Strain are extensive, involving teams on foot, drones, and boats equipped with sonar technology, according to Nielsen.
For more details, Nashville police are working to determine Strain’s last known location using phone and watch pings.
“Riley is a good kid. He came here looking forward to a fun weekend,” his dad, Ryan Gilbert, told ABC News. “We just want to bring him back home safely.”
Strain’s parents and stepparents have been in Nashville for several days, actively participating in the search efforts.
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating whether Strain was served too much alcohol before he disappeared.
The Commission stated, “While there are no specific regulations about escorting intoxicated patrons out or helping them get home, state law does prohibit serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals. This is a class A misdemeanor. We have launched an investigation to see if any violations occurred.”
TC Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Luke’s 32 Bridge, has stated that it is cooperating with the police by providing security camera footage and any other information that could help find Riley Strain. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return,” the group said.
Strain is a senior at the University of Missouri, majoring in business and interdisciplinary studies.
“The University of Missouri community is keeping Riley and his family in our thoughts as the search goes on,” said Angela King Taylor, interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Missouri.
“The Delta Chi Fraternity is deeply concerned for the safety of Riley Strain, a valued member of our Missouri Chapter,” the fraternity expressed. “Our thoughts and hopes are with Riley’s family and our Missouri Chapter during this challenging time.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.