Riley Strain’s parents broke down in tears as they accepted her diploma from the University of Missouri, two months after her mysterious death.
Strain, 22, disappeared while bar-hopping with his friends in Nashville on March 8 and was found dead in a river two weeks later after a massive manhunt.
Police said they do not suspect foul play, but his family is still seeking answers about how he died after chilling footage emerged of the student stumbling around the city hours before his death.
On Saturday, his heartbroken parents courageously took the stage at the University of Missouri and accepted Strain’s diploma from the Mizzou College of Arts and Science.
His mother cried and raised her diploma to the sky as students stood and cheered for a standing ovation in his honor.
Riley Strain, 22, disappeared while bar-hopping with his friends in Nashville and was found dead two weeks later. His parents accepted his diploma from the University of Missouri in his honor.
Riley’s name was the first to be read during the ceremony.
As his parents and their partners accepted the diploma on his behalf, they were greeted with loud applause from classmates, staff and participants.
His mother, Michelle, wiped away tears and held up the diploma in tribute to her son.
The crowd of students and parents then stood and clapped and cheered as the family comforted each other on stage.
Riley specialized in business and financial planning before his death.
The Delta Chi fraternity member went missing in Nashville during a trip to his fraternity’s annual spring ceremony when he was kicked out of Luke’s Bridge Food + Drink just after 9:30 p.m.
Strain had told his friends he would meet them at their hotel.but he was nowhere to be found when the group returned from their evening.
His friends tried to contact him, but received no response and reported Strain missing as they were unable to locate him via his Snapchat location.
A two-week search for Strain ended when workers found his body in the Cumberland River eight miles from where he went missing.
Surveillance footage later collected by police at the Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church Street.
The apparently drunk student fell, then quickly got up and continued down the street.
Another camera caught him near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North, just before 10 p.m., taking long steps with his head down as he stumbled through the streets.
Massive searches were launched, with police and residents scouring miles of town, river and countryside.
The two-week search ended when workers found his body in the Cumberland River eight miles from where he went missing.
An autopsy concluded his death was “accidental,” with no indication of foul play.
It is not yet known what the exact cause of his death was, or why Strain was in the river.
The student reportedly FaceTimed his mother Michelle Whiteid that evening, and she said nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Her parents previously said police bungled the investigation into her disappearance because more clues appeared to come from the public than from police.
Parents’ criticism of cops comes after TikTokers found a crucial piece of evidence that investigators failed to uncover more than a week after Strain’s disappearance.
Anna Clemdening and Brandy Baenen were rummaging through trash along the river when they found Strain’s bank card.
“My stomach dropped,” Clendening said, describing the moment she flipped the card over to reveal Strain’s name. “My innate reaction was to say, ‘Let’s keep looking. »
Strain’s family, who had traveled from Missouri to Nashville for the search, announced the news that he had been found.
His mother, Michelle, said: “I’m just asking you mums to hold your babies tight tonight, please.”
Michelle Strain Whiteid, the heartbroken mother of Riley Strain, broke her silence at a press conference just hours after her 22-year-old son was found dead in a river eight miles from where he went missing in Nashville.
She echoed the words of her husband Chris, Riley’s stepfather, and the 22-year-old’s father, Ryan Gilbert, saying how much they appreciated the support from across the country.
Although the family has previously criticized the police, Gilbert thanked the Metro Nashville Police Department for its efforts, as well as the United Cajun Navy volunteer.
“It’s just amazing what they’ve done for us,” Gilbert said.
Stepfather Chris thanked the entire Nashville community for their help in the search for Riley.
“It’s been an emotional roller coaster. We are so grateful for everything you have done for our family. The grace you have given us means so much, more than you will ever know.
“To the people of Nashville, I cannot thank you enough for the support, love and encouragement you have shown me and my wife,” Chris said.
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