Riley Strain: A Nashville Tragedy

22-year-old Riley Strain was a college student at the University of Missouri where he majored in business and finance while holding an internship at Northern Mutual where he planned to work after college. In March of 2024, Riley and his Delta Chi fraternity brothers took a trip to Nashville, Tennessee for their annual Spring trip. The group arrived on a bus from Columbia on Friday, and that evening they all went out, enjoying Nashville’s colorful entertainment district. The night started with all the friends together, but at around 9:45 PM, Riley was kicked out of the bar they had been drinking at, and he left the establishment alone, telling his friends he was headed back to the hotel. Riley’s fraternity brothers never saw him again, and his disappearance sparked a very publicized search that would end in tragedy.

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[AngelMary]

As a mother of 2 boys (17 & 23) I always told them, "Don't be a bystander. If you see something, say something. Whether it be some jerk hitting on a girl who is obviously uncomfortable or you see another dude like Riley obviously intoxicated & unable to walk home. We are so afraid to help people anymore. If one person cared enough to help Riley on his walk back to his hotel his mother would still have her son. Riley's story reminds us that this could've been any one of our children. I have raised boys to help your children. Please raise children that will help mine. ❤️

[debrawoike]

My opinion: No fraternity worthy of the name would let a brother leave alone.

[makeupbydizzle]

I was dropping my 13 year old daughter and three friends off at a school dance 💃🏻 they were getting out of the car and I heard my daughter tell her girlfriends 👯‍♀️ “ my mom will be back to pick us up at 10:00 remember we come together we leave together”! Wow 😮 proud mama moment right there!! Yes babygirl yes!! 👏🏽 don’t ever forget that!!

[wendybates]

I'm from the UK and i work in a night club. Every week someone is turned away at the door for having no ID or being too drunk, whatever or they get removed from the club for whatever reason and they leave alone. Their friends just carry on without them. It astonishes me because when i used to go out with my friends we always stuck together, no one was ever left alone especially if they were drunk.

[alainez.]

i like this format. i also like the longer series. this format would be good for cases without as much info and would be good between series.

[yogadork_namaste]

Derrick wearing the beaded bracelet made by his kid is so wholesome

[anniecherryhope]

Ive been spiked a few times and ive been a bartender over many many years, and I’ll share what I’ve learnt in the hopes it can help someone else…

1. Bar tenders can also spike drinks. This has happened to me before. They can be part of a criminal operation where bartenders, bouncers and criminals are linked, the bar tenders spike, bouncers remove the person and then criminals wait outside and rob the person then everyone gets a cut. This means it’s not just women being targeted it’s men, women, anyone. So keep your wits about you. This is what happened to me and FORTUNATELY I wasn’t attacked or robbed but this was the MO.

2. Bar tenders should ALWAYS be making your drink in front of you, should never be putting your glass out of sight or below the bar, using the glass to scoop ice etc. it should always be visible and in front of you. You as a patron are also well within your rights to ask for your drink to be remade if something doesn’t seem right and if you’re treated badly because you ask, I would LEAVE.

3. Being spiked looks exactly like severe intoxication. You can’t really tell them apart unless you have a drug test at the hospital. Take care of your friends, be aware of how much everyone is drinking and pay attention to someone seeming okay then becoming black out if you can.

4. You’re not crazy. Being spiked can be SO violating and make you feel so stupid but it’s not your fault. If someone says they think they’ve been spiked believe them and support them. The guilt and shame victims feel is horrendous and it feels awful when people don’t believe you.

Sending love to Riley’s family. This case is so so sad. ❤

[kristik]

Oh my gosh, thank you for covering this! I was in Nashville for a work trip the weekend he went missing and I have been so caught up with this story. I can’t even believe it.

[indescribablelove]

I love this short take but what makes Crime Weekly so amazing is the “deep” dives you uncover.

[angesheep]

I think bars should provide and have available “drink spiking stickers and strips” … especially areas like this where it’s a problem!

[ItsMia]

Nashville born and raised here(almost 40)! General rule of thumb about Nashville. Simply do NOT go out alone. Do not allow your friends to leave alone. Nashville isn't the same place it once was. Watch your drinks like a hawk. Our local hospitals have numerous cases of the date r&pe drugs nightly. My heart breaks for Riley. Such a tragic loss.

We have another missing person case active right now that needs the upmost coverage. Sebastian Rogers. He's a 15 year old boy with autism that, his step dad, reported him missing. The entire case is beyond strange. MAJOR red flags surrounding the bio mom and step dad.

[haleysellars]

I would literally start panicking if I couldn't find one of my friends at a busy bar. This is so sad.

[hannamosinske]

Thank you for covering this. I went to high school with Riley. He was always so sweet.

[charlotteadams]

I remember my university kicking people out of the uni bars, but never would they allow somebody to leave alone- it’s gross that this happens. RIP Riley you deserved better

[AnotherJennifer-a]

I enjoy having a shorter case in between some of the longer more in depth cases. I also enjoy having a mix of recent cases along with the ones that may not be as widely known

[LeedleHawk]

My family is from the same area as Riley's. His funeral was a few days ago and the family said that they'd be releasing more information next week. So many frat brothers with him and no one walked him home to be safe, we've got to do better as a society and community. Thank you Stephanie and Derrick for giving his story a light, this an all too relatable case for many young people.

[dockaren]

Those CCTV clips of Riley stumbling down the street are profoundly troubling. He was obviously VERY inebriated. The idea that this poor kid was left alone to find his way back to the hotel is heartbreaking.

[kendralynch]

Not a single person thought it was autocorrect for "good lol" I type lop for lol all the time.

[teresaluttrull]

I'm from Springfield Missouri where he attended College this was such a sad story 😢 I was at local bar that I go dancing, me and my Friend(Guy) were dancing and set our beers on the ledge, well prior to this I had a very attractive couple hit on on me and I politely brushed it off . After comingoff the dance floor was drinking my beer went back out to dance while on the dance floor I felt like I had drank a case of beer, I was leaving at that time and that couple was watching me very closely, I made it home throwing up and went to the ER it took 2 weeks to feel right again. YES!!! watch your drinks! And for the love of God NEVER LEAVE A MAN/GIRL BEHIND 🙏

[AncientCrustacean]

The fraternities should have strictly enforced policies regarding not abandoning incoherent "brothers"