Riley Strain
Riley Strain, seen here in an undated photo, was found dead in the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 22, 2024.
(Photo : Metro Nashville Police)

The family of Missouri college student Riley Strain has yet to be fully convinced he died accidentally before being found in a Tennessee river.

"We're just looking for that next little clue that's gonna give us an answer to what happened where he, you know, went missing," stepfather Chris Whiteid told NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, for an exclusive Monday report.

Whiteid said the family was awaiting the results of toxicology tests after autopsies didn't uncover any obvious signs of trauma on the 22-year-old's body.

Whiteid also disclosed that he wanted to hear from Strain's Delta Chi fraternity brothers, who've allegedly had little contact with the family since his death.

"They were the last ones to actually see Riley. We'd love to see any pictures or anything like that they'd be willing to share," Whiteid said.

A Delta Chi spokesperson didn't immediately return a request for comment from HNGN.

In a March 22 statement, the fraternity's international headquarters in Indianapolis said the organization was "deeply saddened" by Strain's death.

"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," the statement said.

Strain and his fraternity brothers from the University of Missouri were reportedly in Nashville for their spring formal when Strain went missing around 10 p.m. on March 8 after getting kicked out of a downtown bar owned by country singer Luke Bryan.

Strain's disappearance prompted a massive search with few clues, including bodycam video of a brief interaction he had with a police officer that night and his bank card, which was later found on an embankment along the Cumberland River.

On March 22, Metro Nashville police officials said his body was pulled from the river, about 8 miles west of downtown, earlier in the day.

Preliminary autopsy results showed his death "continues to appear accidental," with no signs of foul play, police said.
Strain's family had a private autopsy conducted in response to those findings.

A family friend, Chris Dingman, last month told NewsNation that the first autopsy didn't find any water in Strain's lungs, suggesting he may not have been alive when he went into the river.

Dingman also said Strain wasn't wearing his pants or cowboy boots when he was found.