A missing 22-year-old University of Missouri student sent his last message to a woman, who apparently had a hard time deciphering the message
- Riley Strain’s last text message was reportedly sent to a woman who was checking on him the night he disappeared, according to loved ones
- Body camera footage released Monday shows a Nashville police officer briefly encountering Strain on Gay Street shortly before the 22-year-old disappeared
- Strain’s family is growing increasingly frustrated with authorities as the investigation approaches two weeks
The last text message Riley Strain sent before he disappeared has been discovered as the search for the University of Missouri student continues.
The 22-year-old college student sent his last text message to a woman he was seeing, who asked Strain how he was doing the night he disappeared, family friend Chris Dingman told NewsNation on Monday.
In response, Strain replied, “Good thieves,” according to Dingman.
A family friend mentioned that the woman had trouble deciphering the message, and even went online to seek clarification.
Christopher Whiteid
In a separate interview, Michelle Whiteid, Strain’s mother, told NewsNation she was “not sure” who the woman was. “He has several friends who are female, male. I don’t know the person he was talking to then,” she added.
Missing student Riley Strain seen stumbling on CCTV the night he disappeared
It’s been a week and a half since Strain’s disappearance on March 8th. The Delta Chi fraternity member was last seen on surveillance footage just before 10 p.m. that evening, shortly after Strain was asked to leave country music star Luke Bryan’s Nashville bar.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(556x0:558x2)/Riley-Strain-031324-8-2514677eaf634020a13c204d5e36ca3f.jpg)
Riley Strain, the missing college student who went missing in Nashville on March 8th.
Christopher Whiteid
New body camera footage was released Monday showing a Nashville police officer briefly encountering Strain on Gay Street shortly before he disappeared. It’s unclear why it took more than a week for authorities to release the video.
Both Dingman and Strain’s parents told NewsNation they have grown frustrated with the investigation, including delays in releasing certain recordings.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(561x0:563x2)/Riley-Strain-031324-9-9d9b38a616d14993a0e1e134eb3eea85.jpg)
Riley Strain, a Delta Chi fraternity member who went missing in Nashville on March 8.
Christopher Whiteid
Chris Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, said they only saw the video after they requested a meeting Friday afternoon.
“We haven’t seen anything or heard too much from them all week last week. We were getting frustrated, we wanted to see what they had,” he added.
Luke Bryan is ‘praying for the safe return’ of a missing man who was last seen at his Nashville bar
The family was particularly upset after Strain’s bank card was found by two women on an embankment near the Cumberland River, an area that had been heavily searched by volunteers in the days before the discovery.
“We’ve heard from multiple people who have tried to call Crime Stoppers and leave tips and have been told they don’t know anything about the Riley Strain case,” Chris said. “So, a lot of confusion. We are struggling. We’re in 10 days, you know? It’s disheartening.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(632x0:634x2)/Riley-Strain-031324-11-8498e0ec344240b5921754c8882aa6cf.jpg)
Riley Strain, a 22-year-old college student who went missing in Nashville on March 8.
Christopher Whiteid
In addition to the police search for Strain, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating whether the Missouri college student was overdosing before he went missing. In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, TC Restaurant Group, which oversees Bryan’s company, said they are in communication with the Commission and are providing “any records necessary to assist the investigation.” The statement added that their records show that while at the bar, “he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters.”
His family previously told PEOPLE they “won’t leave” until they find Strain.
“We’re looking for you,” Chris said in an interview last week. “We know you’re out there.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education