The family of Riley Strain, the 22-year-old University of Missouri-Columbia student whose body was pulled from the Cumberland River in West Nashville last week, requested that a second autopsy be performed on Strain’s body.
Strain (pictured above) went missing after being asked to leave Luke Bryan’s bar on the night of March 8 before being recovered in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, approximately eight miles from downtown, two weeks later on March 22.
After the Nashville Fire Department retrieved Strain’s body from the water, the medical examiner’s office was able to quickly review the body and positively identify it as that of the missing college student.
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) at the time said Strain was still wearing the shirt and watch he had on when he was last seen on March 8. However, it has since been revealed that Strain was not wearing his jeans or boots when he was pulled from the water.
A friend of the family confirmed the requested autopsy to WSMV on Thursday after questions had been raised as to why Strain was undressed from the waist down at the time he was pulled from the water.
Despite this, MNPD said Strain’s death “continues to appear accidental.”
A visitation and Celebration of Life service for Strain was held on Friday in Springfield, Missouri. Attendees of Strain’s service were asked to wear green to “honor Riley’s love of life.”
Strain will be laid to rest by a private burial, which will be held at a later time.
“Riley Strain’s presence will be profoundly missed, but his joyous approach to life and the happiness he brought to those around him will forever be remembered,” Strain’s obituary says.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Riley Strain” by Riley Strain.
