Riley Strain's family: 'Somebody helped him in the water'

(NewsNation) — The family of 22-year-old Riley Strain believes someone helped the University of Missouri student into the river where his body was discovered weeks after he went missing in Nashville, Tennessee. Strain’s family claimed to NewsNation that they haven’t seen convincing evidence Strain fell in by accident.

“If he truly fell in the water, and you can prove that to me, show me,” said Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid. “I’ll accept it. But I can tell you from all the stuff that we’ve done as far as searching, looking, taking pictures—I don’t feel like it’s really possible to happen. He may have fallen. Somebody helped him in the water.”

Strain’s body was found on March 22 in the Cumberland River in West Nashville. Police said the college student’s death appears “accidental,” with no trauma suggesting foul play, according to preliminary autopsy results.

The medical examiner who performed that autopsy said there was no water in Strain’s lungs. That detail, along with a lack of cuts and bruises on Strain’s body and the inclined terrain where Strain is believed to have fallen from, has only made the young man’s death harder to piece together, his family said.

His stepfather believes Strain would have hit his head or suffered other injuries if he had fallen straight down into the water. “No cuts or scrapes or anything serious like that,” Whiteid said.

The family ordered a second autopsy that they hope brings clarity to the case. Strain disappeared on March 8 during a trip to Nashville with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers. Earlier that night, Strain messaged his mother, Michelle Whiteid, saying he ordered a rum and Coke at a bar that “didn’t taste good.”

The TC Restaurant Group, which owns and operates the bar, said Strain was asked to leave after being served one alcoholic drink and two waters. His toxicology results aren’t complete yet. It’s unclear what else, if anything, may have been in Strain’s system at the time.

Strain communicated with his mom throughout the trip and texted her when they arrived at the hotel, she said. The next morning, when Whiteid woke up to go grocery shopping, she received a call from his fraternity brother asking if she’d heard from Strain.

Michelle and Chris Whiteid quickly headed from Springfield, Missouri, to Tennessee. Ryan Gilbert, Strain’s father, said he also made the seven-hour trip. When the family arrived in Nashville, Strain’s frat brothers “all of a sudden disappeared, all of the boys,” during the search, Michelle Whiteid said. “A little later,” they showed up “in their dress clothes to go out to their formal that night,” she added.

His body was discovered two weeks later, about 8 miles from where he was last seen. Strain was missing his wallet, pants and boots. Strain's family said he had been wearing a belt that night, which should have secured his pants. Chris Whiteid said he will continue to look for answers.