Less than a week after the body of Riley Strain was discovered in the Cumberland River, the 22-year-old University of Missouri student’s family has ordered a second autopsy.
According to the New York Post, the Strain family’s decision to order a second autopsy was due to Riley being found without pants, boots, or wallet.
A preliminary autopsy from the Metro Nashville Police Department indicated that Riley Strain died of “accidental” causes. The college student was last seen alive on March 8 as he was being thrown out of Luke Bryan’s downtown Nashville bar.
After a two-week-long search, Strain’s body was discovered in the Cumberland River approximately eight miles from downtown Nashville.
Although authorities do not suspect foul play, Riley Strain’s loved ones remain skeptical. “The only thing that was found with him, as the police stated in the report, was the watch and the shirt,” Strain family friend, Chris Dingman, shared with NewsNation.
Riley’s family has also analyzed photos of the college student and his friends on March 8. In the photos, Strain was wearing his cowboy hat and his wallet was in the front pocket of his jeans.
Friend of Riley Strain’s Family Says a Second Autopsy Would ‘Answer Some Questions’
While continuing to speak to NewsNation, Dingman shared that the family of Riley Strain decided to do a second autopsy. This was in hopes that it would help answer some questions.
“The family did have a second autopsy,” he confirmed. “Actually in Tennessee following the Metro Nashville autopsy, from a private independent company that does that.”
Dingman then said the autopsy came out just like Metro Nashville. “No obvious signs of trauma as in weapons, guns, or knives,” he pointed out.
The second autopsy notably focused on “more testing on specific things.”
Dingman elaborated on what that means. “One thing that threw the family for a loop was the coroner going on record with a news person in Nashville stating about the lack of water in his lungs.”
Riley Strain was discovered with no water in his lungs. Dingman said that usually, water in the lungs means the person was alive when they went into the water.
Dingman went on to add that an additional autopsy may answer more questions. “The family deserves more answers than we have.”
It was further reported that detectives have not closed the investigation yet. Authorities are still needing to question various people. This includes occupants of a homeless camp near the location where Strain’s body was discovered.
Although police initially had a person of interest, Dingman confirmed they were no longer looking for the person.