Mum of Riley Strain speaks out after student’s body was discovered in river two weeks after going missing

Riley Strain's mum has issued a plea to all parents after her son's body was found in a river two weeks after he went missing.

The University of Missouri student, 22, was last seen on 8 March after he was kicked out of a bar for breaching their 'conduct standards'.

He was visiting Nashville, Tennessee with his fraternity brothers at the time.

According to the bar's transaction history, he only purchased two waters and one alcoholic beverage before he was kicked out of 32 Bridge.

"We proactively provided detailed information quickly after his visit to our business," the bar said.

"This included all security camera footage, photos of Riley, transaction records and staff accounts.

"During Riley's visit, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters."

Two days after he went missing, his bank card was found on the embankment of the Cumberland River and that's where police located the body.

Metro Nashville Police Department said in a statement on 22 March: "BREAKING: The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown."

Police spokesperson Don Aaron previously said there was no evidence of foul play.

"To those who are saying that they believe he could have been in distress, that somebody could have been after him as he walked onto Gay Street, well, as you see in the video, he’s walking by himself on the river side and speaks to a police officer as the officer is looking at a vehicle that had been broken into," he said.

Riley's mother and father have since spoken to the media and are understandably heartbroken by what's happened.

“I just ask that you mommas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please,” Riley’s mother, Michelle Whiteid told Fox 17. “Please for me, hug your babies tight tonight.”

HAPPENING NOW: The family of Riley Strain speaks to the media in the wake of their son’s death. https://t.co/0rPntcDzbR https://t.co/xy19gVK2a4

— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) March 22, 2024

Ryan Gilbert, Strain’s father, thanked the department for finding his son, adding: "It's just unbelievable what they've done for us."

Stepfather Chris Whiteid also said: "It's been an emotional roller-coaster.

"We're quite thankful for everything that you've done for our family. The grace that you've given us, it means a lot, more than you'll ever know.

"To the people of Nashville, I can't thank you enough for the support, the love, the encouragement that you've shown myself and my wife.

"You don't understand how much that meant to us in some of our darkest hours."