Riley Strain Update: Missouri student's death ruled accidental drowning, alcohol poisoning, police say

CNN
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Riley Strain, a Missouri college student who went missing after leaving a downtown Nashville bar and whose body was later found in a river, died of accidental drowning and alcohol poisoning, according to the state's office. forensic doctor. said Tuesday.

Strain's body was found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville on the morning of March 22, several miles from where he went missing. The 22-year-old University of Missouri student was in town for a weekend two weeks earlier when he was kicked out of a bar, authorities said.

The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department said the autopsy, released Tuesday, supports its detectives' findings about the missing persons, and the department now officially classifies Strain's death as accidental.

The autopsy report says Strain's blood alcohol level was 0.228, nearly three times the legal driving limit. The cannabis compound Delta-9 THC was also found in his system, the report states.

Police found that Strain had consumed “multiple alcoholic beverages” at various Nashville establishments, became separated from his friends and was “visibly impaired” while walking on Gay Street near the Cumberland River in the night of March 8.

Detectives concluded that Strain, unfamiliar with the terrain and walking in the dark, headed toward an overgrown area and fell down the steep embankment leading to the river and into the water. Due to recent rains, the river level was very high that night with a fast flowing current, police said.

“The MNPD continues to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Riley Strain,” their statement added.

CNN obtained a copy of the autopsy report from CNN affiliate WTVF and has contacted the Strain family's attorney for comment.

Strain's family requested an independent autopsy when his body was found, they previously told CNN.

Correction: A previous version of this article cited the wrong CNN affiliate for the copy of the autopsy report. It came from affiliate WTVF.