Riley Strain death: Mom says he texted her about his drink tasting odd, ‘Maybe there was something in it’

University of Missouri senior Riley Strain’s mother has revealed that her son texted her that his drink tasted odd the night he went missing in Nashville

Published on: Apr 17, 2024, 07:52:55 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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University of Missouri senior Riley Strain’s mother has revealed that her son texted her that his drink tasted odd the night he went missing. The 22-year-old was reported missing in Nashville on March 8 after he was kicked out of Luke’s 32 Bridge. His body was later found by a man in the Cumberland River.

Riley Strain death: Mom says he texted her about his drink tasting odd (Chris Whiteid via AP)

Strain’s mom, Michelle Whiteid, said in a conversation with NewsNation that he ordered a rum and coke but it “didn’t taste good.” This happened during a night out in the Music City, where he was accompanied by his fraternity brothers.

‘Maybe there was something in it that shouldn’t have been’

Whiteid said she asked Strain not to drink it, following which he said it tasted “like barbecue.” “I go, ‘Well that sounds awful,'” Whiteid said. “He said, ‘Well, it sounds good, but it’s not.”

“Maybe there was something in it that shouldn’t have been,” she added.

Witnesses and surveillance footage revealed that Strain was “very, very intoxicated” after being thrown out of the bar. Strain’s stepdad, Chris Whiteid, previously alleged that the bartender cut off the student after he was overserved, but the var disagreed. It claimed Strain was served just one alcoholic drink. He vanished shortly after being removed by the security team.

Foul play has been ruled out and as per a preliminary autopsy, Strain’s death has been listed as accidental. However, his family has doubts. They have ordered a second autopsy.

“If he fell and truly fell in the water, and you can prove that to me, show me. I’ll accept it,” his stepfather Chris Whiteid told NewsNation.

“But I can tell you from all the stuff that we’ve done as far as search and looking, taking pictures — I don’t feel like it’s really possible that happened. He may have fallen, but someone helped him in the water,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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