There’s a developing story out of Nashville, Tennessee, involving a college student named Riley Strain.
Riley Strain, a 22-year-old college student from Missouri, has tragically gone missing under alarming circumstances. Last Friday, Riley was last seen on Broadway in Nashville, navigating the streets after a night out. The situation took a concerning turn after it was reported that Riley had been ejected from Luke Bryan’s Tennessee bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink.
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or TABC, is now investigating claims that the bar may have served Riley an excessive amount of alcohol. Which is a crime considered a misdemeanor. This comes amid allegations that he was visibly intoxicated when asked to leave the establishment. It’s important to note that state law prohibits the service of alcohol to individuals who are visibly intoxicated.
Riley was in Nashville on a fraternity trip and became separated from his group after being removed from the bar. Despite his intentions to reunite with his friends at their hotel, Riley never made it back, prompting a widespread search. When his friends couldn’t locate him via his Snapchat location, they reported him missing the following afternoon.
Surveillance footage from the area has provided glimpses into what Riley did after being forced to leave the bar. He was seen stumbling near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church Street, a moment captured by the Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop. Despite taking a fall, Riley was observed getting back up and continuing on his way.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management have been scouring the streets and the nearby Cumberland riverbank, driven by fears that Riley might have accidentally fallen into the water. Efforts to trace Riley’s movements through his phone and Apple Watch data have so far been unsuccessful, and checks with local hospitals and jails have turned up no leads.
The last known location of the Missouri college student was recorded between Gay Street and James Robertson Parkway. Officials explained that two local homeless individuals did see Riley in the area on the night of his disappearance.
Luke Bryan, the country music star and owner of the bar, has publicly expressed his concern and offered his prayers for Riley’s safe return. Bryan’s establishment is cooperating with the Metro Nashville Police Department, providing security camera footage and any other information that might aid in the search.
What’s crazy is that Riley’s friends left him alone. When I was younger, we always stayed together even if that meant all of us had to leave, and this was one of the reasons why. Plus it kept everyone accountable and safe.
