WHERE IS RILEY STRAIN: BREAKING
Summary
TLDRThe search for missing college student Riley Strain continues as his family and investigators desperately seek answers. The last known location of Riley's phone and the discovery of his credit card near a homeless encampment by a volunteer searcher have raised new questions about his disappearance. With no further activity on his cell phone or bank card, the case remains a mystery, prompting a call to action for anyone with information to come forward and help bring Riley home.
Takeaways
- 🔍 The search for missing Riley Strain continues, with his mother pleading for help and information.
- 📞 A 911 call was made by a friend reporting Riley missing, providing details about his appearance and last known location.
- 📱 Riley's last known location was near the sheriff's office, with his phone not having network or service since 9:53 PM.
- 😢 The family is devastated, with Riley's mother expressing a bad feeling about her son's disappearance.
- 🤝 Chris Dingman, a close family friend, discusses the family's mindset and the efforts to find Riley since his sudden disappearance.
- 🔎 Brandy Banan, a volunteer searcher, may have found a crucial physical clue, which is believed to be Riley's credit card.
- 🚨 The area where Riley's card was found is known for a homeless encampment and potential drug activity.
- 🧐 The lack of any further activity on Riley's phone or bank card since his disappearance raises questions about his whereabouts.
- 🎥 Surveillance video footage shows Riley walking and jogging, with some irregularities in his gait and movements.
- 👮♂️ A police officer encountered Riley during his walk, but reported nothing out of the ordinary and no signs of distress.
- 📞 The tip line 6158628600 is available for anyone with information regarding Riley Strain's disappearance.
Q & A
What is the main focus of this transcript?
-The main focus of this transcript is the search for a missing person named Riley Strain and the efforts being made to find him, including the involvement of his family, law enforcement, and the community.
Who is speaking at the beginning of the transcript?
-Nancy Grace is speaking at the beginning of the transcript. She is a television host and legal analyst known for covering crime stories.
What was Riley Strain's last known location?
-Riley Strain's last known location was near the sheriff's office, as indicated by the last ping from his phone around 11 p.m.
What was the significance of the 911 call in the transcript?
-The 911 call is significant because it provides firsthand information about the initial report of Riley Strain's disappearance and the details provided by his friend at the time of the call.
What is the role of Chris Dingman in this case?
-Chris Dingman is a close family friend of the Strains and a spokesperson for Riley's family, providing updates and sharing information about the ongoing search for Riley.
What was the description of Riley Strain's clothing when he went missing?
-Riley Strain was last seen wearing jeans, boots, and a half black and half light brown shirt.
What was the reaction of Riley's parents upon learning about his disappearance?
-Riley's parents were devastated and immediately took action to report him missing and travel to the area where he was last seen.
What was the significance of the credit card found by a volunteer searcher?
-The credit card found by a volunteer searcher was significant because it belonged to Riley Strain and was found in an area near where he was last seen, suggesting that it could be linked to his disappearance.
What is the theory regarding Riley Strain's state of mind before he went missing?
-The theory is that Riley may have been disoriented and walking in the wrong direction, leading him to an area with a homeless encampment where his bank card was later found.
What was the condition of Riley Strain's credit card when it was found?
-The credit card was found in relatively good condition, not weathered or dirty, which was unusual considering it had been potentially exposed to the elements for several days.
What was the significance of the surveillance video in the investigation?
-The surveillance video provided crucial information about Riley Strain's movements on the night he went missing, including his interactions with others and his general state of being, which could help in determining what happened to him.
Outlines
🔍 The Disappearance of Riley Strain
Nancy Grace opens the segment by highlighting the deepening mystery surrounding the disappearance of Riley Strain. The emotional plea from Riley's mother sets a somber tone, emphasizing the community's efforts to find him. Nancy stresses the importance of factual analysis in such emotional cases, sharing the initial 911 call made by Riley's friend. This call reveals crucial details about Riley's last known whereabouts and physical description, setting the stage for a detailed discussion on the search efforts and the circumstances leading up to Riley's disappearance.
💔 A Family's Desperation
Nancy narrates the distressing moment Riley's family learns of his disappearance, underscoring the magnitude of their shock and quick mobilization to find him. Chris Dingman, a family friend, joins the conversation, sharing insights into the family's devastation and the peculiar circumstances surrounding Riley's sudden vanishing. The narrative reflects the family's commitment to Riley's well-being and their determined search, despite the absence of clues and the emotional toll it takes on them.
🕵️♂️ Investigative Insights and a Critical Clue
Nancy engages with Dryden Quigley, an investigative reporter, to dissect the area where Riley was last seen. They discuss the precarious environment near the Cumberland River, known for its homeless encampments and potential dangers. Amidst this, a significant breakthrough is shared: a volunteer searcher discovers Riley's bank card, marking the first substantial clue in his disappearance. This finding introduces a glimmer of hope and a renewed fervor to unravel the mystery of Riley's fate.
🧩 Piecing Together the Puzzle
Nancy elaborates on the emotional and physical landscape surrounding the discovery of Riley's bank card. The card, found in an unlikely and treacherous location, suggests foul play and raises questions about the circumstances leading to Riley's disappearance. The segment captures the raw emotion and determination of the search party, emphasizing the importance of this clue in the ongoing investigation and the collective effort to understand what happened to Riley.
🚨 A Community's Call to Action
The conversation shifts to a broader discussion on the community's role in search efforts, underscored by a volunteer's testimony about the conditions under which Riley's bank card was found. Nancy critiques the hazardous environment and challenges faced by the searchers, highlighting the complexities of the search area. This part of the segment calls attention to the communal and individual responsibilities in contributing to the search for Riley, stressing the urgency and the need for collective vigilance.
🔎 Advancing the Investigation
Nancy and guests delve into the immediate aftermath of the discovery of Riley's bank card, discussing the implications for the investigation. They examine the cleanliness of the card, suggesting it was placed rather than lost, and the potential for further evidence in the vicinity. The segment also highlights the involvement of law enforcement and the importance of securing the area for a thorough investigation, underscoring the meticulous nature of such inquiries.
👁️ New Evidence and Unanswered Questions
Nancy presents new surveillance footage showing Riley before his disappearance, adding layers to the mystery. Discussions with Chris Dingman and experts analyze Riley's movements, the sequence of events leading to his last known location, and the condition of his bank card. The segment raises critical questions about the circumstances of Riley's disappearance, the involvement of other individuals, and the potential scenarios that could have unfolded that night.
🕊️ The Power of Community in Solving Crimes
The final segment underscores the crucial role of community involvement and citizen sleuths in uncovering vital clues in missing persons cases. Nancy Grace reflects on the impact of crowd-sourced information and the collective effort in the search for Riley Strain. She emphasizes the ongoing need for public engagement and the potential for additional witnesses to come forward, illustrating the significant contribution of the community in aiding law enforcement and bringing closure to such cases.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Riley Strain
💡Missing Person
💡Crime Stories
💡Investigation
💡Surveillance Footage
💡Volunteer Searcher
💡Tip Line
💡Homeless Encampment
💡Credit Card
💡Fraternity
Highlights
The ongoing search for missing Riley Strain, a 22-year-old college student, continues to deepen as new details emerge.
Riley's mother is pleading for help, expressing her desperation after not hearing from her son for over a week.
The last known location of Riley was near the sheriff's office, as indicated by the last ping on his phone at 9:53 p.m.
Riley was last seen wearing jeans, boots, and a half-black, half-brown shirt, and was at Luke Bryan's bar the night before his disappearance.
The family was notified of Riley's disappearance by his fraternity brothers, leading to an immediate response from his parents to report him missing.
A volunteer searcher, Brandy Banan, may have found the single most important physical clue, which is Riley's bank card, in a challenging terrain near a homeless encampment by the river.
The area where Riley's card was found is known for a homeless encampment, with potential drug use and is considered dangerous.
Riley had no history of drug use, making the discovery of his card in such an area even more concerning.
The terrain where the card was found is described as having multiple ledges, mud, rocks, and garbage, including needles, making it unlikely for the card to have ended up there accidentally.
The card found was not weathered or dirty, suggesting it hadn't been there for long, and its discovery could be a significant lead in the case.
A homeless person reported hearing a commotion around the time Riley might have been in the area, which could be a crucial detail for the investigation.
Surveillance video shows Riley walking normally, coherent, and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, challenging initial theories about his disappearance.
Riley was seen on video jogging and then tripping, which could indicate he was trying to avoid something or someone.
The investigation has utilized canines, sonar, helicopters, drones, and volunteer searchers, highlighting the extensive efforts to find Riley.
There is a narrow timeline of Riley's movements from the bar to the riverbank, with gaps in the surveillance footage raising questions about his final hours.
The absence of any cell phone or bank card activity since Riley's disappearance suggests a sudden stop in his activities.
The ongoing search for Riley Strain involves a collaborative effort between law enforcement, the community, and citizen investigators.
Transcripts
at this hour the mystery deepens in the
search for missing Riley strain I'm
Nancy Grace this is crime stories thank
you for being with us here at crime
stories and on serus
xm11 how can you turn a deaf ear to this
listen I haven't talked to my boy for
over a
week and his
hard you say to somebody that gives up
part of their life to help you find your
life it's
amazing thank you for getting the word
out and keeping the word out and please
keep don't stop sharing don't stop
sharing till we bring Riley home please
just
continue I've got such a bad feeling
where is
Riley this kid scrubbed in sunshine this
is the boy every mom wants their boy to
be like okay the apple of his family's
eye you were hearing his mother begging
and pleading crying trying to speak
through tears asking us to help tipline
6158628600 repeat
6158628600
now is the time for us to act in the
search for Riley strain and I've got to
tell you a hundred A Thousand Times
Mothers would come to me at trial and
even now begging for
help but at trial you have to keep a
clear head unclouded with emotion and
look at the facts in order to help the
family I want you to hear the original
911 call
listen who is it that you're wanting to
report is missing it's we're here on a
fraternity formal trip it's it's one of
my good buddies okay what is his name
his name is Riley strain Riley r i l e y
strain s r a i n okay is he white black
Hispanic Asian he's white he's white uh
22y old 65
blonde
okay and what was he last scene
wearing outside of Luke Bryan's bar last
night at like 10 and then the last time
his location on his phone was by the
sheriff's office at like 11 p.m. okay
and what color clothing was he last SE
wearing he's wearing jeans boots and a a
half black shirt half brown light
brown you're hearing uh a good friend of
Riley strange calling 911 and how ironic
is that one of his last pings the
location on the phone was at the
sheriff's office in front of near around
the Sheriff's Office no network or phone
service since
953 p.m. where is Riley joining me in
Allstar panel to make sense of what we
know right now I'm going to play you
more of the 911 call because I have
learned with uh working with so many
many juries as a felony prosecutor that
takes you to the moment and you can
learn so much about probative facts
facts that prove something that help you
find the person but first I want to go
to a special guest joining us Chris
Dingman uh a very dear family friend of
the strains and you can find them on
GoFundMe at Riley strain Chris thank you
for being with us what is the frame of
mind of the family right now in the
search for their
son uh the family's completely
devastated you know we're 10 11 days
into this uh really Ry just disappeared
in thin air and we we try to keep faith
we keep hope uh the ironic part of not
having Clues means we have hope he's
still there lost somebody may know where
he is um but it is truly devastating on
the
family and shortly speaking of Clues we
are going to be joined by the woman who
may have found the single most important
clue as of right now uh back to you
Chris Dingman a very dear friend and
spokesman for Riley's family how did
this whole thing unfold when did Riley's
parents discover he's missing I mean
it's every parents worst nightmare you
know Chris I work every day sometimes
holding down two sometimes three jobs
because I want to make a college fund
for my children to to get through high
school you know give them tutors if they
need it get them to college give them
every
opportunity that a lot of people
including myself never had to make it
easier for them so Riley gets to college
he's doing great he makes friends in his
fraternity I think it was Delta Kai
everything's going fine he goes on their
formal which all the college kids do and
all of a sudden mom gets the call he's
gone I mean how does that happen you put
all your love all your energy all your
money everything into helping your
children you think going to college is
the thing to do and Bam he's gone what
happened yeah the the family was
actually notified at about 10:30
Saturday morning uh by his fraternity
Brothers uh wanting to know if they had
heard from Riley because as we all know
now he did not come back to his hotel
room uh the family instantly told the
boys please contacted the police go down
to the police station uh they started
packing a few clothes together
constantly reaching out for Riley hopped
in a car and started heading that way
this process of reporting Riley missing
started actually at 10:30 Saturday
morning and an official report that we
have been shown didn't take place till 1
140 sometime in that area that's how
long it took uh for the boys to actually
get somebody to file an official Report
with a lot of confusion on why that took
that uh but yeah the family was actually
notified about 10:30 Saturday
morning okay guys you're hearing Chris
Dingman joining us uh very dear friend
of the Riley strain Family Guys I want
to hear more of that 911 call then we're
heading straight out to Dryden Quigley
WSMV a four investigative reporter for
the very latest but let's hear the 911
call listen and you said it last showed
outside the sheriff's department like
around that area by the river by the
sheriff's department over there okay
does he have any life sustaining
medications or disabilities no you said
he he has a phone so it's a cell phone
right yeah it's an iPhone 15 Pro Max
what is the number but it's um hold on
all right are you ready yes go ahead
you said the last four were
4198 yes
okay and are you going to be waiting
there the at the door of the precinct
are you going to be waiting in your car
I mean yeah we're at the front door of
the precinct okay I've got the call sent
there at the central Precinct 601 Korean
Veterans Boulevard and downtown right
across the Music City Center we'll get
an officer out to you as soon as we can
please call us back to something changes
before they
arrive so when you look back when you
look back on everything that happens in
every case you think would have could
have should have they should have done
the report earlier we should have this
we should have
that bottom line Riley strain is missing
his parents asking us for their help
again tip line
6158628600
so Chris Dingman you're telling me that
the mom and or dad get a message the
following morning at 10ish
a.m. they ask the fraternity brother
quick quick go report him missing right
now and they head to the area is that
correct yes yes they were in Springfield
Missouri where you know Riley was born
and raised and and that's where we are
and uh instantly when a parent gets that
message you know you're mortified uh
what's going on you know especially when
you're six or seven hours away from your
kid you know and they uh they hopped in
a vehicle threw some clothes together uh
was constantly trying to reach out to
Riley on their Journey there with uh
unfortunately no no response oh cool you
know what that's reminded me of Chris
Dingman uh I'm in New York uh where we
live with the children uh at that time
they're about oh gosh eight nine years
old had just has gotten them to bed and
get a call my dad is on life support I
get one sentence off to him daddy I'm on
the way within 15 minutes we were out on
the street in pajamas trying to Hell a
cab all right and the whole way trying
to get back home to make Georgia just in
fits tight up in knots I can only
imagine what Riley's parents were going
through as they drove all the way to
where he goes missing and speaking of
straight out to Dryden Quigley
investigative reporter WS
MV4 Dryden thank you for being with us
first of all describe the area where we
believe Riley went missing guys I'm
about to go to the woman who was found
what could be the single most important
physical clue yet uh go ahead Dryden so
the last place that he was spotted on
the video camera it's kind of up a
street and it's going along the
Cumberland River where there's a pretty
steep drop off down there um different
areas have steeper than other parts but
you can last see him Crossing this
street and kind of heading up towards
under these two Bridges where he's last
seen you know I'm very curious is it
true Dryden Quigley WSMV 4 that Riley
was headed toward a homeless
encampment so along that drop off
between the Gay Street and Cumberland
River there's this bank and it is where
a lot of people spend the night and
sleep along there and then under the two
Bridges as well yes what people what
people what Boy Scout campers who is
staying out there under
bridges people yeah who don't have
anywhere else to go you know there's a
lot of trash down there too and so that
comes into play later when looking for
Riley's possessions
too is it true that drugs are used in
that area by the homeless
people I can't say that for sure I
haven't seen it myself but I would
believe it's possible
yeah so did he realize he's headed for
an encampment of homeless people where J
Drugs apparently are used openly as we
have seen now developing across the
country guys we have been playing the
911 calls we're telling you the very
latest of what you know but now I want
you to hear from a volunteer search
Searcher Brandy banan who lives in
Nashville and possibly has found the
single most important physical clue yet
I'm so grateful Brandy could speak to us
uh first of all listen to what she tells
us regarding what she was looking for
when she found the clue we were looking
for either his boots shirt um he has a
bright blue wallet any of those
indications um but we went down the and
we went down to the embankment and
walked along the river until we got to
underneath the bridge which is one of
the last um known facilities that he was
in and we started just digging around
rummaging as much as we can and about I
want to say we were there into that part
for maybe 20 or 30
minutes and there's about three Ledges
and on the third bottom ledge um which
it's very hard to explain so I'm sorry
if that is hard to
imagine Anna saw a card right there and
flipped it over to look at the backside
because it was just a like the bank on
the front and saw his name and she goes
oh my God we found his card and I was
like no we didn't and right there we
were both instantly shocked our stomachs
dropped and then we were both like we
have to keep going like this means we
have to keep
going I can't imagine what what went
through everyone's Minds when they
realize they have found evidence Liz we
actually have video and sound of that
Discovery everybody
listen I don't think they do right here
or at least where that guy's tent does
cuz he's talking about how cold what I
found his C you found his credit card we
found his credit card we got to hang up
we got to hang up the phone oh my God
guys I I I'm just trying to take in that
moment where they find the piece of
evidence and I want to make something
very very clear Chris
Dingman this young boy Riley strain has
no history at all ever of drug use um
never has been thrown out of school
never has been in treatment never not
not even a a disorderly conduct crossing
the street jaywalking nothing isn't that
true Chris
Dingman 100% yeah Riley was his
straightforward kid you know we've had a
lot of people be you know question us
and go I can't believe he's that good of
a kid and and all you have to do is ever
be just a little bit of his life just a
blimp meet him anywhere and you
instantly knew that the pictures that
everybody's been sharing with him
smiling that truly was that kid uh he
was an awesome boy and and we want him
back and he is an awesome
boy you know you just brought me to
tears because it reminds me so much of
my son John David people are always
saying how can one kid
be so good natured and and so joyful I
mean you know what his nickname is here
at the house awesome his nickname is
awesome and um just thinking about him
completely innocent I mean Dr Bethany
Marshall uh joining me high-profile
Psych analyst joining us out of LA and
you can find her at Dr Bethany
marshall.com Dr
Bethany when I talk about this homeless
encampment and how drugs allegedly are
being openly sold and used this is not
about
Riley going down to get drugs he has no
history of that at all zero he was out
with his friends on the fraternity
formal weekend he get wanders off alone
and this is where his bank card is found
it's like a lamb being led to the
slaughter Dr
Bethany exactly Nancy it sounds to me
like Riley was extremely disoriented he
thought he was going back to his hotel
room he no longer had his friends with
him and he was simply walking the wrong
direction and he walked right into the
jaws of danger I mean what happens in
these homeless encampments is that they
are communities Nancy and everybody in
the homeless encampment tends to know
each other they watch out after each
other they sometimes exchange food they
they look after each other's kids
they're like little tiny cities so when
Riley walked into the situation are you
talking about woman I mean Dr Bethany
this is not a a commune where they're
raising organic food and singing Kum by
yah every night
they're God bless them for their
Misfortune but there are drugs being
openly sold hard drugs needle drugs Beth
I don't know what world you're coming
from well Nancy my had a Min out high
school I know that work with the hom too
but the last thing I'm going to do is in
John David and Lucy under a bridge
absolutely absolutely well what I was
going to say was that
the fact that he was not a part of this
group and he walked in made him
extremely vulnerable it was a very
precarious situation walking into a
group of desperate people and this is
like a child like a little lamb being
led to the slaughter he did not know
what he was getting
into guys I want to Circle back to what
we know uh again a volunteer Searcher
who spends her own valuable private time
helping in the search for Riley has
found a very significant piece of
physical evidence it's Brandy ban
volunteer Searcher and I want you to
hear what she has to say about why
Brandy is searching for
Riley I personally started going out
Tuesday night I went out Wednesday
Thursday Friday um Saturday Sunday um I
was doing some Tik Tok lives with a
friend while I was searching because I
was kind of going on my own and Anna
happened to see one of those Tik Tok
lives and she messaged me and asked if
she could come join the next day and she
did and that gave me um that gave me the
ability to be able to go all the way