University of Missouri student Riley Strain missing in Nashville: What to know about search

As the search for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain continues in Nashville, fundraising efforts are underway in a bid to help the 22-year-old's family.

A GoFundeMe has raised more than $43,000, as of Friday afternoon, organizers said.

The money will help Strain's family with money for food, hotels and travel as the search for the missing student stretches into the weekend, capping off a weeklong effort that has produced little results.

The Metro Nashville Police Department said Thursday afternoon that investigators are waiting for the release of Strain's phone and Apple Watch records in the hopes of tracking him down.

The search effort Thursday turned to the department's urban search and rescue team, which has been scouring the Cumberland River bank and a homeless encampment in the area where Strain was last seen March 8.

"They've gone up and down the bank. They've done multiple sweeps. Urban search and rescue has checked several areas, including dilapidated buildings as well as storm drains," Metro Police Sgt. Robert Nielsen said during a Thursday press conference.

One tip police had received was that a homeless person at the encampment had seen Strain, Nielson said, noting that police are trying to find that person and talk to them. Strain has not been seen despite dozens of Crime Stoppers tips pouring in every day.

The investigation into his disappearance is happening in tandem with a Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission investigation, looking into what happened at Luke Bryan's downtown bar and allegations that Strain may have been overserved before he was kicked out Friday.

He was last seen on Gay Street shortly before 10 p.m. after being kicked out of the bar.

His friends reported him missing the following day.

Nielsen said Thursday there was no indication of foul play involved in the case.

"This is strictly a missing person investigation at this point," Nielsen said. "Obviously, those things can change. We just don't know."

Strain is 6'5" tall with a thin build, blue eyes and light brown hair.

Nielsen said the police department is using all its resources, including homicide detectives and street patrol to track down tips.

"Right now, we have no idea what happened with this gentleman," Nielsen said.

Search of Cumberland River yields no clues

In addition to a Wednesday evening search that included two boats and sonar equipment, the Office of Emergency Management had also launched a boat Tuesday to search the Cumberland for Strain in a coordinated effort with police, spokesperson Kendra Loney said.

Crews searched the riverbank to determine if Strain had washed ashore or if he had fallen near the river after surveillance video showed the 22-year-old stumble along and across Nashville streets in areas close to the Cumberland Friday.

But, officials have, so far, found nothing.

Where was Riley Strain last seen?

Strain was out with a group of Delta Chi fraternity brothers Friday night when he got kicked out of Luke Bryan's about 10 p.m.

TC Restaurant Group, operator and owner of Bryan's Luke's 32 Bridge, said in an Instagram stories they are working with MNPD to provide security camera footage in the search for Strain.

"Y'all, this is scary. Praying for his safe return," Bryan said in an Instagram story post.

His friend told police that they got separated and lost sight of Strain, according to a police report. They tried using his location on Snapchat to find him but were unsuccessful. Calls to Strain went straight to voicemail, the report said, and he was not found at their hotel on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, about five blocks from the bar.

Nashville police say he was last seen on Gay Street at 9:52 p.m. Friday, March 8, after drinking downtown.

Police searched the area Monday, including the riverbank, by air with helicopters and a drone, as well as on the ground but found nothing.

University of Missouri involved in search

Authorities there have been in touch with the student's family as well as local law enforcement, the university's release noted.

“The safety of our community is our highest priority,” Angela King Taylor, interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said in the university's release. “Our thoughts are with Riley’s family as the search continues. We will be offering any support to them that we can, and we encourage anyone who needs help to reach out to our counseling resources.”

Anyone with information about Strain's whereabouts is asked to call Metro Police at 615-862-8600 or the MU Police Department at 573-882-7201.

Video released of Riley Strain

Metro Nashville police released video surveillance of Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street.

About 11 seconds into the 44 second clip, Strain, wearing a split color black and tan button down comes into frame from the right side. He stops momentarily in front of a "road closed" sign. He appears to look at his phone from an arms length away then continues on, stumbling over himself at times.

Strain finishes crossing the street, then stops and looks back, turning around and stumbling toward the direction he came from. He then turns back around, arms limply swinging, and follows the crowd of people who passed him, continuing out of camera view toward Gay Street.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Missouri student Riley Strain missing in Nashville: What to know