Just over three months after the body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River near downtown Nashville, his autopsy report was released.
On March 8, 22-year-old Riley Strain went missing after being booted from Luke Bryan’s Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink in Nashville. The University of Missouri student was visiting Music City with his fraternity when he disappeared downtown after reportedly violating conduct standards at the bar and was kicked out.
Strain told a friend that he was going to return to their hotel, but he never made it. His friends reported him missing the following morning and a massive search ensued.
Security camera footage from nearby businesses showed Strain stumbling through the streets of downtown, seemingly disoriented and confused the night of his disappearance. Strain was allegedly intoxicated when he went missing, but the bar claims that it only served the student one alcoholic beverage and two waters. Friends claimed that they had seen Strain drunk before and that his behavior that night didn’t match what they had witnessed previously.
For two weeks, search teams scoured the city and its homeless camps on foot while boats, divers and helicopters searched the Cumberland River near where Riley was last seen.
On Friday, March 22, a man working on the river, roughly 8 miles south of downtown Nashville, discovered Riley Strain’s body. Authorities responded to the scene and found Strain deceased, still wearing the Apple watch and clothing he had on when he left the bar, putting to rest any rumors that Strain had been robbed.
RELATED: PARENTS OF RILEY STRAIN SPEAK OUT FOLLOWING DISCOVERY OF HIS BODY
A preliminary autopsy report was released the following day. The report indicated that there were no signs of foul play and that Strain’s death appeared to be accidental, but a full toxicology report was still in the works.
On Tuesday, June 18, more than three months after Riley Strain disappeared, a copy of the official autopsy report was released by the Davidson County Medical Examiner.
FOX 17 News reports that the official cause of death for Riley Strain was drowning and alcohol poisoning, listed as ethanol intoxication.
“A large amount of fluid was detected in his lungs. However, there was no significant trauma or broken bones detected,” the outlet shared. “Strain’s blood alcohol content registered 0.228, which indicates a level of intoxication where someone would be disoriented, needing help walking or standing, and very impaired sensory functions. Small amounts of nicotine and THC were also present.”
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Riley Strain’s family.