Riley Strain’s Mom Cries as Family Says Their Goal Is Still to Bring Missing Student Home

• The parents of missing college student Riley Strain remain “focused on getting Riley home” as the search for the 22-year-old nears the end of its second week
• Chris Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, said family members believe finding their missing loved one is still possible
• He also said family members believe police handled the case “well” despite some frustrations with the investigation

The family of Riley Strain remains hopeful that he will be brought home as the search for the missing Missouri student continues into its second week.

Police said Strain, 22, was last seen shortly before 10 p.m. local time on March 8 on security footage taken on Gay Street in Nashville. The United Cajun Navy announced Tuesday that it had joined the search for Strain.

At a news conference Tuesday, Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, tearfully said family members were “focusing on getting Riley home,” a goal her husband still believes is possible.

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Strain’s friends are also “heartbroken” by the disappearance of the Delta Chi fraternity member, according to his mother.

“He’s their best friend,” Michelle said, later noting that Strain was her best friend as well. “We love these guys like our own. It’s just as hard for them as it is for us.”

– He is everything – she added through tears.

Riley Strain, a 22-year-old student who has been missing since March 8.

Christopher Whiteid

Strain’s parents expressed some frustrations with the investigation into their son’s death in an interview with NewsNation on Monday.

But at a news conference on Tuesday, Chris said family members believed the case was handled “well” by police.

“We feel they handled it well. We know that they receive too much information that they have to dissect,” he told reporters. “Yes, as the days go by, we are frustrated. We know they are doing their job. We’ve seen what they’ve got.”

Chris noted that the family doesn’t really know for sure who Strain sent his last text message to, despite a family friend’s previous claim. “We know that Riley probably communicated with multiple people,” he said.

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The complete timeline of the disappearance of missing student Riley Strain

Police later confirmed that there was still no evidence of criminality in Strain’s disappearance.

Strain’s debit card, which was found on an embankment near the Cumberland River, is currently “only part of the physical evidence” authorities have obtained, according to Detective Anthony Chandler.

“There are several leads that we are constantly following and an influx of information is coming in at all times,” Chander said. “But the priority remains locating Riley.”

Asked why police didn’t find the bank card first, Sergeant Robert Nielsen said authorities were “looking for a body” and not “small pieces of evidence.”

Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who went missing on March 8.

Christopher Whiteid

“There are a lot of variables in these investigations,” Neilsen explained. “Could we be missing some things? Sure. But our primary goal is to find Mr. Strain and get him home safely.”

In addition, police said body camera footage was released Monday to dispel rumors that Strain was wanted before he disappeared.

Missing student Riley Strain seen stumbling on CCTV the night he disappeared

The family said they also viewed video from a bar Strain visited the night he disappeared, which apparently shows the friend walking down the stairs with Strain, possibly toward the exit, before the two parted ways.

Police are still combing through tons of additional information as the search for Strain continues.

Chris said Strain’s family appreciates the outpouring they’ve received from the community, press and others “more than you’ll ever know.”

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Source: HIS Education