Missouri student Riley Strain's demise attributed to alcohol-induced drowning, according to authorities.
Riley Strain's body was discovered in the Cumberland River in West Nashville on March 22, a few miles away from where he had last been seen. A 22-year-old student at the University of Missouri, Strain was in town for a weekend trip when he was ejected from a bar two weeks prior, according to authorities.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department revealed that the autopsy, released on Tuesday, supports the findings of their missing person detectives, classifying Strain's death as accidental.
Investigations showed that Strain had consumed "numerous alcoholic beverages" at various locations in Nashville, lost contact with his friends, and appeared intoxicated as he walked towards Gay Street, next to the Cumberland River on March 8.
Detectives deduced that Strain, who was unacquainted with the area and navigating in the dark, ventured towards an overgrown region, slipped down the steep slope that leads to the river, and entered the water. Given the heavy rainfall at the time, the river was exceptionally high and fast-moving, police stated.
The MNPD expressed their sympathies to Strain's family and friends through their statement.
CNN has sought a copy of the autopsy report and has contacted Strain's family's legal representative for comment.
Strain's family requested an independent autopsy upon recovering his body, as per their earlier conversation with CNN.
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After the autopsy, authorities confirmed that Riley Strain's death was accidental due to alcohol-induced drowning. Regardless of the investigation, Strain's family decided to request an independent autopsy.
