The search continues for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain, last seen two weeks ago.
As per reports, the 22-year-old had been partying with his fraternity brothers in Nashville on March 8. Yet he vanished after being kicked out of a bar and has not been seen or heard from since.
Riley’s disappearance has prompted a huge search operation, while his mother, Michelle Whiteid, this week made a heartbreaking public plea. Now, the mystery has taken another twist after the release of a confusing message sent from the 22-year-old’s phone on the night of his disappearance.
According to reports, Riley Strain, a senior at the University of Missouri, visited Luke Bryan’s bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, in Nashville on March 8.
At approximately 9:35 p.m. the 6-foot-5 Strain was escorted out of the bar by the establishment’s security due to unspecified violations of conduct standards.
At 9:47 p.m., Strain was captured on surveillance footage crossing the street – he was then spotted on another camera five minutes later looking disorientated. That was the last known sighting of the 22-year-old.
The following day, March 9, Strain’s fraternity brothers reported him missing to the police, who initiated a wide-ranging search effort. Clues as to the student’s whereabouts are few, though his bank card was reportedly found near a river bank.
Riley’s family are naturally beside themselves as they chase answers regarding their son’s disappearance. On March 13, Christopher Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, spoke candidly to People Magazine about the family’s anguish, saying: “It’s killing us. Because we don’t know what’s going on. We can’t find him.”
Issuing a direct message to his stepson, Christopher added: “We’re looking for you. We are not leaving until we have you. We’re going to be with you at graduation…and everything’s going to be fine.”
The latest update from the case centers around a cryptic message sent from Riley’s phone on the night he vanished. The message read simply “Good lops,” and was sent to a woman the 22-year-old was reportedly seeing.
Sources say the message added a fresh layer of mystery to the case, with both the recipient and Strain’s loved ones puzzled by its content.
Riley’s mother told NewsNation that while Strain had many friends, she could not pinpoint who the message was intended for.
“He’s got several friends that are female, male. I don’t know the individual he talked to at that time,” she said.
Country music star Luke Bryan, owner of the bar Strain was escorted from before his disappearance, released a statement offering his support for the ongoing search effort.
“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return,” he said.
*** UPDATE ***
Police have confirmed that Riley’s body was tragically found today (March 22) in a West Nashville river. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
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