A harrowing 911 call detailed the precise moment missing student Riley Strain’s limp body was found floating in a river.
The 22-year-old was last seen after being asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge, a bar owned by country icon Luke Bryan, on March 8 in a bustling street in Nashville, Tennessee. For two weeks authorities desperately searched for the University of Missouri student as they sifted through CCTV footage, checked river banks and visited homeless camps to no avail.
But at approximately 5.40pm on Friday, March 22, Riley’s body was found eight miles down the Cumberland River, Nashville Police Chief John Drake confirmed at a press conference. Workers were removing an object from the river when they spotted the body floating face down in the waters.
READ MORE: Riley Strain police reveal cause of death of student found dead 8 miles from where he vanished
The employee of building materials company Holcim dialed 911 after making a chilling revelation. “I have just found a dead body,” the caller told a dispatcher in the eerie audio recording. “I believe it to be Riley.”
Riley was last seen sporting a two-tone black and light brown shirt when he was with his fraternity friends. The 6ft 7in Delta Chi member was spotted twice on CCTV footage stumbling down Church Street and Gay Street, which confirmed that he was still wearing the outfit after leaving the bar.
”Black shirt, kind of white, muddy looking on the front. It’s face-down in the water. Caucasian,” the man described the body to the dispatcher. “He’s fully submerged besides his back sticking out of the water. I had to move a log off of the head to confirm it was a body.”
Police went to the location near 61st Avenue North to recover the boy’s body. Police Chief Drake noted that someone of Riley’s height would take upwards of two weeks to surface after being submerged in a body of water.
The autopsy revealed that there were no signs of foul play and his death was likely accidental, according to WKRN. However, it is not yet clear what the exact cause of Riley’s death was or how he ended up in the river.
Riley made the 430 mile trip from Missouri to Nashville with his fraternity brothers for an annual spring formal. He was booted from the bar and told his friends that he’d return to the hotel he was staying in.
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He began walking in the opposite direction toward the Cumberland River. After being seen on CCTV, at points folded in half, he was also spotted by an eyewitness near a homeless camp. Later, his phone pinged near the river bank.
At 1.46am, Riley’s friends had learned he was still not back at the hotel and called 911. Following a two week-long search, involving helicopters, drones, boats, K-9 units and his parents, Riley was still not found.
“I want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone and how much we appreciate everyone’s support, love and prayers,” Riley's mom Michelle Whiteid said.
Riley’s University of Missouri fraternity also offered their condolences on Friday. It said in a statement: “The Delta Chi Fraternity is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our esteemed fraternity brother, Riley Strain.
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"Our hearts go out to Riley's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time as we work to provide support and resources to all those affected by this tragedy."
Nashville residents held a candlelight vigil for Strain on Gay Street the night his body was found.
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