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Riley Strain's Family Still Have Questions As Personal Items Remain Missing

Home / News / Riley Strain's Family Still Have Questions As Personal Items Remain Missing

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on April 6, 2024 at 10:30 AM EDT

Two weeks after Riley Strain's body was found in Cumberland River, his family still has questions regarding the disappearance of Riley's personal items.

The case, which made headlines for weeks, began on March 8 after Riley Strain reportedly got kicked out of Luke Bryan's bar in Nashville, Tennessee. But what had his friends worried was the fact that Riley never returned to his hotel room.

After two weeks of searching, Riley's body was found in a river nearby.

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Riley Strain's Body Discovered In River

Man Last Seen At Luke Bryan's Bar Has Been Missing For Days
Whiteid and Gilbert Family

14 days after Riley went missing, Riley's body was found.

“They removed something from the river and as they moved it they noticed Mr. Strain and called it in,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake said.

But what isn't adding up with Riley's family is that some of his personal items, including pieces of his clothing, are missing. Riley’s body was found without his phone, pants, belt, wallet, or boots. His credit card was found near the river days before his body was found.

While some professionals say it's common for individuals in rivers that flow downstream to have their clothing taken off by rocks or branches in the water, Riley's family says that doesn't make sense.

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”We’ve had a lot of questions as far as pants, belt, wallet, boots, and none of those items have been found,” Ryan Gilbert, Riley’s father, said, per KY3. “We’re pretty certain that he would have been wearing a belt at the time.”

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Where Is Riley Strain's Belt?

Man Last Seen At Luke Bryan's Bar Has Been Missing For Days
Whiteid and Gilbert Family

Many of Riley's close family friends are also confused as to why his body was discovered, but his personal items weren't.

“Riley had a swimmer’s body,” family spokesperson Chris Dingman said on 'Elizabeth Vargas Reports', per NewsNation. “[The belt] would have been snug to him, riding on his hips. … As soon as we found out he had a belt on that night, [it] totally changes the dynamics of why those articles are missing.”

The family has ordered a second autopsy, and they are hoping one of the two autopsies being done will help answer their questions.

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Riley Strain's Family Awaits Autopsy Results

Newly Released Video Shows Riley Strain Speak To Police On The Night He Vanished
Whiteid and Gilbert Family

Unfortunately, the family will have to wait for answers, as the medical examiner won't release any information or preliminary details until everything is finalized -- even to the family.

”We’re weeks out on results from the autopsies and we’re kind of basically in a holding pattern waiting for answers ourselves,“ Ryan said.

”We hope to be able to get clear information to give to everybody because speculation doesn’t do anything it just creates more doubt,” Chris added. “The few items that we do know as fact have created more questions.”

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Lack Of Water In Riley Strain's Lungs?

Man Last Seen At Luke Bryan's Bar Has Been Missing For Days
Whiteid and Gilbert Family

As the family awaits the toxicology results, according to FOX, family spokesperson Chris Dingman said Strain had "a lack of" water in his lungs when he was discovered.

Many speculated the student fell into the river while highly intoxicated, and he drowned, meaning if there was little water found in his lungs, it is raising questions surrounding whether foul play was involved. However, police still say there has been no indication of foul play.

"Bottom line is, there's no evidence of any foul play here. The history is that he had been in a bar. The bartender says they only gave him one drink, but that's up to the toxicology report," Dr. Baden told Fox News Digital.

It is important to note that the medical examiner's office has not yet released this detail and this is coming solely from the family spokesperson.

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Medical Professional Gives Possible Explanation For Lack Of Water Reportedly Found

Man Last Seen At Luke Bryan's Bar Has Been Missing For Days
Whiteid and Gilbert Family

While some may be questioning why there was allegedly a lack of water found in Riley's lungs, medical professional Dr. Baden told FOX, "That's the issue about water in the lung after two weeks of composition in water. The amount of water that was in the lungs at the time of drawing and drowning, causing death, is of no value because the amount of water in the lungs changes a great deal."

Adding, "Sometimes going up, sometimes going down, as the body decomposes. So, with a decomposing body, two weeks in the water, the amount of water that was present [in the lungs] at the time of death is so unknown."

The Blast will continue to report on any new details regarding the Riley Strain case.

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