Nashville police have formally closed their investigation into the death of University of Missouri senior Riley Strain, whose body was recovered from the Cumberland River after he vanished following his removal from Luke’s 32 Bridge, a downtown bar owned by country music star Luke Bryan. The 22-year-old was last seen on March 8, shortly before he went missing. His body was found in the river, leading to an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Though police have determined that Strain’s death was likely accidental, his family continues to question this conclusion, suggesting that further investigation is needed. Chris Dingman, a family friend, shared in an interview on The Pascal Show that Luke Bryan’s management reached out to express the singer’s condolences to Strain’s family. Bryan, who is known for his compassion and philanthropy, indicated that he would like to personally offer his sympathies to the family. “Luke has sent his empathy towards the family and everything, as far as that goes,” said Dingman. “The family thought that was nice too.”
Strain’s family has not been convinced by the police’s findings, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, has publicly questioned the bar’s account of events. Although the bar claimed that Strain was served only one alcoholic drink, Whiteid suggested that his stepson was overserved, leading to his removal from the premises. However, despite these claims, Dingman noted that the family received no indication of any wrongdoing in Bryan’s bar.
The medical examiner’s report indicated that Strain had no water in his lungs, nor did he have any visible bruises or cuts, which would typically be expected if he had fallen into the river from an inclined terrain. Whiteid expressed skepticism about the idea that Strain simply fell into the water, questioning how he could end up in the river without suffering injuries. “He may have fallen. Somebody helped him in the water,” he stated, seeking further evidence.
As the family continues to seek answers, the community remains divided on what exactly happened to Riley Strain. While the police investigation has concluded, the lingering doubts among those who knew and loved him raise concerns about the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
