Retracing Riley Strain’s steps in downtown Nashville

Updated: Mar 22, 2024 / 10:01 AM CDT

Editor’s note: The latest update on Riley Strain.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – It has been just over a week since 22-year-old Riley Strain, a University of Missouri college senior, was last seen after reportedly getting kicked out of a bar in downtown Nashville.

As the search for Strain continues, NewsNation affiliate WKRN retraced his last known steps to give perspective on where the college senior was last seen downtown.

Broadway

According to TC Restaurant Group, Strain was escorted out of Luke Bryan’s bar located in 300 block of the Broadway in Nashville on Friday, March 8. In a statement, the company, which operates the bar, said records show the 22-year-old purchased one alcoholic drink and two waters.

Church Street

The next known sighting of Strain was captured by Downtown Smoke & Vape shop’s surveillance camera, which sits between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North in Nashville. In the video, Strain is seen walking on the sidewalk, appears to lose his balance, gets back up and continues down Church Street towards the river.

1st Avenue North to Gay Street

(Source: Metro Nashville Police Department)

On Wednesday, March 13, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) released surveillance video showing Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street. This is the last time the 22-year-old was seen on video.

According to Strain’s family, his phone last pinged near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street.

Lamar Advertising is now working to get billboards up across Nashville, hoping to bring any attention to the desperate search for the college senior.

“We hope that he’s found. We hope that we find out that he’s just gotten lost somewhere and that this helps people bring him back. So, it’s very important for us to communicate and participate this way,” said Jeremy Johnson, sales manager for Lamar Advertising Company.

A GoFundMe for the Strain family can be found here.

Strain is 6-feet, 5-inches tall, with a slender build, blond hair and blue eyes, according to his family. If you see Strain or have any information about where he may be, you are asked to call the MNPD at 615-862-8600.