Five months after college student Riley Strain vanished from downtown Nashville and was later found dead in the Cumberland River, a police investigation has revealed more insight into the college student’s final hours.
A Metro Nashville police investigation found the 22-year-old consumed between 12 to 15 alcoholic drinks before his death.
The University of Missouri student arrived in Nashville with his fraternity via bus on March 8. According to interviews conducted by the police, “the group was drinking” during the trip despite a no-alcohol policy on the bus.
One person claimed Strain consumed at least five drinks, including two vodka shots and three IPAs during the bus ride.
By 4:30 p.m. local time, Strain’s fraternity brothers arrived in Nashville and less than a half hour later video showed the college student consuming a margarita at one establishment.
NEW | Riley Strain’s parents say Riley’s fraternity brothers did not help them search & went out partying the night after Riley went missing
They are also concerned there was a delay before the Delta Chi fraternity brothers has alerted the police
“Why wouldn’t they have called… pic.twitter.com/ByvRpca2eF
— Bobby Ellison (@BobbyEllisonKY) April 17, 2024
A report from the Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission indicated Strain consumed five to six more drinks by 8 p.m.
By 8:30 p.m., while at another bar, his roommate “got him two waters because Riley began slurring his speech,” and after the bartender heard Strain slurring his speech, they directed the bouncer to eject the college student from the establishment.
Police reports indicate Strain was escorted from Luke 32′s Bridge after an argument with staff around 9:38 p.m.
Strain spoke with one of her fraternity brothers on the phone shortly after he left the bar, and then he disappeared.
A national fraternity expert believes Riley Strain’s fraternity should be held responsible. https://t.co/xP6dixbzxJ
— WKYT (@WKYT) August 8, 2024
Strain was reported missing the following afternoon. His body wasn’t found until March 22.
Three months after his disappearance officials released his official cause of death: drowning and ethanol intoxication. At the time, it was unclear how Strain’s blood alcohol level was .228 even though he hadn’t appeared to consume a large amount of alcohol before his disappearance.
Rest in peace, Riley.