Riley Strain was not overserved alcohol on the night of his disappearance, investigation finds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) - An investigation found there was no proof that University of Missouri student Riley Strain was overserved alcohol by Broadway bars on the night of his disappearance.

According to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, it reviewed evidence related to Strain’s alcohol purchases in downtown Nashville on March 8 – the night he went missing and fell from an embankment into the Cumberland River.

TABC spokesman Aaron Rummage said in a statement that the TABC followed every evidentiary lead, including purchase records, witness interviews, and “scrutinized extensive video footage provided by businesses from that evening.”

Investigators found no evidence to conclude any wrongdoing.

“While the circumstances of Mr. Strain’s death are tragic, the TABC investigation into whether he was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated on the night of March 8, 2024, did not result in any concrete evidence in the form of eyewitness testimony or video proof of a violation,” Rummage said. “Evidence including toxicology reports demonstrate that Mr. Strain became intoxicated over the course of the evening, but there is no clear evidence that he was served an alcoholic beverage while visibly intoxicated at licensed premises.”

The TABC said its team launched an investigation after being alerted to Strain’s disappearance following a night out in downtown Nashville with friends and visited licensed establishments that serve alcohol.

According to Rummage, a key responsibility of the TABC is to investigate whether businesses had a role in harming patrons and it’s routine for the TABC to open investigations when this is questioned.

“The TABC remains committed to enforcing alcohol-related laws and ensuring the safety of the public,” Rummage said. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Strain’s family during this difficult time.”

The Metro Nashville Police Department said earlier this month an autopsy report released by a medical examiner corroborates the findings of their detectives in the search and discovery of the Strain’s body two weeks after his disappearance.

Police said Strain was alone and unfamiliar with the terrain along Gay Street in downtown Nashville and stepped toward an overgrown area before falling down the embankment and into the Cumberland River below.

The police department added that due to recent rain, the river was high with a swift current that evening.

After a nearly two-week search, Strain’s body was found miles downriver from where he fell.

The medical examiner’s report concluded Strain died as a result of drowning and intoxication. His manner of death was deemed an accident.

The report says Strain had a blood alcohol content of .228, nearly three times the legal limit to drive.

From the beginning, authorities emphasized there was no evidence to support claims of foul play.

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