New report describes events leading to death of University of Missouri student in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (KMIZ)

A report from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission has provided new details about what happened in the hours before Riley Strain’s death.

The University of Missouri student disappeared on March 8 after being thrown out of a downtown Nashville bar. He was later discovered floating in the Cumberland River on March 22.

Strain’s autopsy and toxicology report showed that alcohol contributed to his accidental drowning. The Davidson County Coroner’s Office announced in June that Strain had a blood alcohol content of .228. Toxicology tests found isopropyl alcohol (a form of alcohol), caffeine, cotinine, nicotine and THC in his system.

Nashville police had previously stated that after Strain’s body was found, “no injuries attributable to foul play” were found.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission launched an investigation on March 13 into Luke’s 32 Bridge, the bar where Strain was last seen.

As part of the investigation, the department contacted Strain’s father, Ryan Gilbert, his roommate Joey Cockell, another roommate who was also the last person to see him, Braden Baltz, and Delta Chi Mizzou Chapter President AJ Townsend.

According to the report, Townsend told investigators by phone that the fraternity took four buses to Nashville on March 8. Townsend said Strain was not on his bus, but he saw him at the Nashville hotel around 4:30 p.m. in “good spirits.” However, Townsend stated that he was not with Strain when he was downtown.

However, Baltz told investigators that he was with Strain in downtown Nashville that night. According to the report, Baltz told investigators that around 4:30 p.m., a group from the fraternity went to “Miranda Lambert’s bar,” where Strain ordered a margarita. He was unsure if Strain ordered anything else.

The group left the bar an hour later and went to Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places Bar, where Strain drank “2-3 rum-cokes and 3 Nutrl,” a 5% alcohol hard seltzer, according to Baltz. At about 7:45 p.m., the group went to Luke Bryan’s Bridge 32, where Strain may have had another rum-coke, according to the report. At 8 p.m., the group went to Kid Rock’s Bar, but Baltz was unsure what Strain was drinking. The fraternity returned to Luke’s 32 at 8:30 p.m. Baltz said in the report that he got Strain two glasses of water because he had started slurring his words.

According to testimony from a bar employee, Strain went to the downstairs bar and asked for water. The employee said she had a brief conversation with him in which he said he was “waiting for a friend.” The employee further said he asked for a shot, but she refused to give him any. Strain then went upstairs to the rooftop bar.

On the roof, Baltz says in the report, Strain then attempted to settle his bill, although he had not opened a tab when he returned to the bar. Witness statements in the report say Strain argued with the bartender while attempting to pay his bill. Another bar employee described Strain in the report as “very intoxicated” and his behavior was “aggressive.”

When the bartender heard Strain slurring his words, she told the bouncer to throw him out of the rooftop bar, the report said. Baltz then claims in the report that while Strain was being led down the stairs, someone in the group may have said, “I’ll meet you at the hotel.” He then claimed he called Strain minutes after he was thrown out of the bar and Strain told him on the phone that he was on his way to the hotel. That was the last time he heard from Strain, the report said.

On April 1, investigators with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission spoke with the director of security at Garth Brooks Bar, who gave them a USB drive containing surveillance video of Strain at the bar as well as his credit card transactions. The transactions show that Strain purchased two whiskey Cokes, two Nutrl Hard Seltzers and a rum Coke.

By April 16, investigators had reviewed all the videos and documents presented to them. Along with an attorney, they concluded that Strain was not visibly intoxicated when he was served at the four bars because he was stable and on his feet. The report adds that the video shows Strain having a brief conversation with one of his fraternity brothers while being led down the stairs by a Hatch 32 bouncer. After the conversation, the fraternity member returned upstairs while Strain walked down the block alone.

His death was ruled an accident after an autopsy and toxicology report determined the cause of death was drowning in the Cumberland River while intoxicated.

Authorities in Tennessee concluded last month that there was no evidence that Strain had not consumed too much alcohol.

A private investigator wrote earlier this week that Strain was seen alone under a bridge at 9:58 p.m.