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Cajun Navy joins search for Mizzou student Riley Strain

  • The United Cajun Navy is a nonprofit search and rescue group
  • Mizzou student Riley Strain has been missing for almost two weeks
  • He disappeared after being kicked out of a bar in Nashville

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(NewsNation) — The United Cajun Navy has joined the search for missing college student Riley Strain as police continue to pour through hundreds of leads and tips.

Strain’s family told NewsNation that is slowing down efforts to retrace Strain’s steps the night he disappeared in Nashville after leaving a bar.

The United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit dedicated to helping find missing children, has joined the search. The group is made up of volunteers who are trained in search and rescue and swift water rescue.

Lt. Cmdr. David Flagg said the group is working hard to locate Strain, who has been missing for almost two weeks. However, he said there has not been much new information on the case.

“We’ve got two watercraft coming into the city today, we have a hovercraft that came in yesterday afternoon gentleman from North Alabama, volunteered to bring his craft here,” Flagg said of the group’s plans. “That’ll be going out on the water this morning at some point. And we also have an airboat coming in from South Carolina that is equipped with side-scanning radar and some specialized lighting and things of that nature there.”

Strain was reported missing after being kicked out of Luke Bryan’s bar. He and friends were in Nashville for a fraternity event. Initially, reports said he was removed for being overserved but the bar said he only had one drink and was removed based on their conduct standards. A friend of Strain’s said he attempted to leave with him but was prevented by security.

Surveillance video shows Strain on the streets of Nashville. Strain appears intoxicated, stumbling and falling at one point. His phone later pinged, indicating he was headed the opposite direction from the group’s hotel.

Police checked jails and hospitals for Strain with no luck and have been searching the area and the Cumberland River. Strain’s ID was found on an embankment near the river several days into the search.

Strain’s family has maintained they do not believe he is in the river and have expressed doubts about the texts he sent prior to his disappearance. Police have said there is no evidence of foul play at this time.

Flagg said it’s possible that if Strain did end up in the river, he could have been swept away by the current, though he noted several things would have had to happen for Strain to end up in the water in the first place.

“It would be easy for anyone who fell into that river to be swept away,” he said.

Flagg said the group is coordinating with law enforcement to make sure search efforts by volunteers don’t compromise the official investigation.

Strain is described as 6 feet, 5 inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes and a slender build. He was last seen wearing a black and white collared shirt, jeans and brown shoes.

Anyone with information on Strain or who believes they have seen him should call the MNPD at 615-862-8600.

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