Riley Strain Missing Update as New Clue Discovered in Search

Fears are growing for a missing college student who vanished following a night out with friends on March 8, after his bank card was found by a river on Sunday.

Riley Strain, a 22-year-old University of Missouri student, had been enjoying a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, with his fraternity brothers when he disappeared. Surveillance footage shows him stumbling and struggling to walk in a straight line after he became separated from his friends when he was kicked out of a bar. Strain hasn't been seen since, and his disappearance has sparked a huge manhunt.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), some 600,000 people go missing in the U.S. every year. Analysis of missing adults over the age of 21 by Statista revealed that 100,492 men and 62,552 women went missing in 2021.

Strain was asked to leave Luke's 32 Bridge bar, a venue owned by country music star Luke Bryan, which is located on Broadway at about 9.35 p.m. Strain's friends later tried to find him, with their calls all going to voicemail. They reported him missing the next morning.

Video surveillance footage shared by CBS News shows Strain at various points as he walked through the streets alone. He can be seen weaving across the sidewalk as he staggers forwards.

A huge police hunt was launched, involving search teams on foot, while drones, helicopters, and boats, were also deployed.

The college student's family left their Springfield home and drove for seven hours to Nashville to help join the search. Strain's mom, Michelle Whiteid, wept as she told Channel 5: "We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I've ever gone without talking to him. It's devastating. I just want to find him. And hug him[...] He's such a great kid – such a great kid."

Metro Nashville Police Department revealed on Sunday they had found his bank card on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River.

Newsweek reached out to the Metro Nashville PD by email seeking further information and comment.

The department shared photos of Strain on X (formerly called Twitter) as they appealed for help with the search.

Strain is described by police as 6'5" tall (although some reports suggest he is 6'6'' or 6'7'') with a thin build, blue eyes and light brown hair. Anyone with information should call police on 615-862-8600.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said it is investigating whether Strain was over-served before his disappearance, ABC News reported.

TC Restaurant Group, the operator and owner of Luke's 32 Bridge, said it only served Strain one alcoholic beverage and two waters and asked him to leave in line with their conduct standards.

The group added it is working with police "to provide security camera footage and any other potentially helpful information to aid in the search for Riley Strain. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return."

Police also said there is no evidence of foul play, adding that Strain didn't appear to be distressed after he left the bar.

It emerged on Monday that Strain had been captured on the body-worn camera of a police officer after the pair passed each other on Gay St. and exchanged friendly greetings. The footage was shared on social media site X (formerly Twitter).

Strain appeared to say: "Hi," as he walked past officer Reginald Young, who replied: "How are you doing, sir?" Strain then replied: "I'm good, how are you?" before walking away.

Update 03/19/24 at 8:27 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include details of a police officer's sighting of Strain before the student disappeared.