PI closes investigation into death of Riley Strain

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Scripps News Nashville) – The private investigator for the family of Riley Strain, the 22-year-old college student who drowned in the Cumberland River after a night out in Nashville, released some of his findings this week.

The 281-page report includes a nearly hour-long video that contains key portions of surveillance footage from March 8, the night Riley died.

FILE – Riley Strain (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)

Steve Fischer was hired by the family to independently review all of the evidence. He says because it is the family’s report, he cannot reveal any investigative findings or the contents of the report. What he can share, however, is that there are over 100 hours of surveillance video from more than 20 cameras, along with a dozen witness interviews, conversations with city police, trauma surgeons and the pathologist who performed the autopsy at the Davidson County Coroner’s Office.

Much of the information he shared is consistent with what officials found, but there may be more information the family could share at a later date.

Fischer’s investigation shows that Riley was alone after being thrown out of Luke Bryan’s bar and that at no point did anyone approach him or take him away, refuting rumors of a possible kidnapping or contact with homeless people along the river.

What the family does with the report is up to them, says Fischer.

This story was originally published by Scripps News Nashville, an EW Scripps company.