(NewsNation) — Chris Dingman, a friend of 22-year-old Riley Strain‘s family, is desperate to find out what really happened the night he disappeared and died.
Dingman revealed during a conversation with NewsNation host Elizabeth Vargas on Wednesday that a detective from Metro Nashville is currently attending a police training seminar.
“We’re hoping that maybe they show back up and they learned something in their seminar that can help us figure out what happened to Riley. We’re still trying to get answers,” Dingman said on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
Strain’s family has been vocal about their collective frustration with law enforcement’s efforts in providing answers, but tell NewsNation they won’t give up.
Strain’s family believe someone helped the University of Missouri student into the river where his body was discovered weeks after he went missing in Nashville, Tennessee. Strain’s body was discovered March 22 in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville police said the college student’s death appears “accidental,” with no trauma suggesting foul play, according to preliminary autopsy results.
Strain’s family spoke with senior national correspondent Brian Entin, saying they haven’t seen convincing evidence Strain fell in by accident.
Strain’s family has ordered a second autopsy that they hope brings clarity.
Strain disappeared March 8 during a trip to Nashville with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers.
He communicated with his mom throughout the trip and texted her when they arrived at the hotel, she said. During the evening, Strain texted Whiteid, saying he ordered a rum and Coke “that didn’t taste good.”
“Maybe there was something in it that shouldn’t have been,” Whiteid said. The TC Restaurant Group, which owns and operates the bar, said Strain was asked to leave after being served one alcoholic drink and two waters.
His toxicology results aren’t complete yet. It’s unclear what else, if anything, may have been in Strain’s system at the time.
The next morning, when Whiteid woke up to go grocery shopping, she received a call from his fraternity brother, asking if she’d heard from Strain.
His body was discovered two weeks later, about eight miles from where he was last seen. Strain was missing his wallet, pants and boots. His family said he had been wearing a belt that night, which should have secured his pants.
Forensic pathologist Priya Banerjee and NewsNation law and justice contributor Jennifer Coffindaffer previously told NewsNation it’s difficult to make the “leap” that something “nefarious” happened to Strain.
NewsNation’s Brian Entin and Katie Smith contributed to this report.
