Records reveal what happened before Riley Strain disappeared

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — New video shows the moments before Riley Strain wandered the streets of Nashville on his own and ultimately drowned after he was kicked out of a Broadway bar.  

News 2 has obtained video and documents from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) investigation into the death of the 22-year-old University of Missouri student who was found in the Cumberland River.  

According to the autopsy report, Strain’s death was accidental.  

The TABC found there was no evidence Nashville bars overserved Strain.   

Strain’s disappearance got nationwide attention as crews searched for the college student who was visiting Nashville with his fraternity.   

For two weeks, police, family, and the public closely watched the timeline of surveillance video clips showing Strain’s whereabouts after he was kicked out of Luke Bryan’s bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge.   

On Thursday night, surveillance video released by the TABC showed Strain’s interactions inside several bars before he was asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge.  

The surveillance video shows Strain and his friends at Friends in Low Places on Broadway. According to his receipts, he purchased multiple drinks, but it’s not clear who they were for. At one point, he was seen ordering a Red Bull. In one video, he was seen closing out his tab. 

However, it’s video later in the night at Luke’s 32 Bridge that his family’s private investigator said is the turning point.

Strain’s friends are seen sitting on the outside patio when one of his friends goes to the bar, followed by Strain, who appears to get water. Moments later, a security guard is flagged down for Strain’s apparent behavior. After a brief interaction, Strain is walked out of the bar while his friend returned to the group they came with.    

Strain was seen stumbling down the stairs behind the security guard before exiting the bar.   

At 9:28 p.m., a message was sent out to bar staff which included a picture of Strain that read: “Verbally aggressive with staff. No entry.” Eleven minutes later, a security guard wrote: “I just escorted him out for a second time from upper. Please, no re-entry.”  

According to the TABC report, Strain was last seen on Broadway walking north on 3rd Avenue.  

Strain’s toxicology report showed that his blood alcohol levels were more than twice the legal limit for driving and he also had Delta 9 in his system.  

The family’s private investigator said he has shared some of the surveillance videos with the family along with a 281-page report.