“Family Seeks Justice: Lawsuit Filed by Parents Following Death of College Student”
Nearly a year after the tragic passing of University of Missouri student Riley Strain during a trip to Nashville, his family has taken legal action by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit targets his former fraternity and pledge brothers, holding them accountable for his death.
Riley Strain, 22, was discovered deceased in the Cumberland River about two weeks after he went missing following a night out in Nashville on March 8, 2024. The lawsuit was filed by Strain’s family on March 21 in Boone County, Missouri, specifically against the University of Missouri chapter of Delta Chi. The family alleges that the fraternity’s negligence and carelessness directly led to Riley’s passing.
According to the lawsuit obtained by WZTV, Riley Strain had consumed 12-15 drinks before his tragic death, as reported by Nashville Police. The lawsuit claims that Strain experienced conscious pain and suffering before his demise due to the fraternity’s negligence, ultimately resulting in severe injuries that led to his passing on March 22.
Despite initially declining to attend the fraternity’s annual formal trip to Nashville in 2024, Strain later relented under peer pressure from his fraternity brothers. The lawsuit names 32 individuals, including Delta Chi chapter leaders and members, alleging negligence on their part for failing to ensure the safety of all members and not intervening when Strain was clearly impaired.
The lawsuit accuses the fraternity of various negligent actions, such as lacking proper safety measures for the event, allowing excessive drinking during transportation, and the absence of supervision or guidance. Strain’s family argues that fraternity members observed his unusual behavior, including difficulty speaking and walking, but failed to assist him.
The lawsuit recounts that Strain was seen struggling to maintain balance and communicate effectively, eventually becoming virtually incoherent as the night progressed. After being ejected from a bar, Strain’s fraternity brothers allegedly chose to continue partying instead of ensuring his safety and well-being.
Following these events, Riley Strain was found drowned in the Cumberland River, with ethanol intoxication cited as one of the causes of his death. The family’s legal action seeks justice and accountability for the tragic loss of their beloved son and aims to shed light on the fraternity’s alleged negligence in this matter.
Lost and disoriented, Riley Strain wandered in the wrong direction towards the Cumberland River, just a brief four-minute walk from the bar where his fraternity brothers had last spotted him. “Abandoned and alone without the support of his brothers,” as stated in the complaint, the lawsuit goes on to describe how Strain’s roommates noticed his absence but took no action. They failed to search for him or show any concern, neglecting to contact emergency services or inform Riley’s parents. Instead, they simply went to bed as Riley remained missing for over three hours, failing to return from what should have been a short walk back to the hotel.
Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the autopsy of Riley Strain revealed no signs of foul play, including little water found in his lungs, according to Dr. Baden. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission cleared Nashville bars of any wrongdoing in connection with Strain’s disappearance on the night of March 8th.
Seeking justice for their loss, Strain’s family is pursuing a jury trial, seeking damages to cover medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as compensation for Riley’s pain and suffering prior to his tragic death. Two weeks after his disappearance, Strain’s remains were discovered by a worker along the Cumberland River, leading to the confirmation of his identity by the authorities.
The toxicology report revealed that Riley had a blood alcohol level of .228, well over the legal limit, at the time of his passing. Additionally, traces of Delta 9, caffeine, nicotine, and marijuana were found in his system. The official cause of death was attributed to drowning and ethanol intoxication, deemed an accidental manner of death by the medical examiner.
Audrey Conklin of Fox News Digital contributed to this report. Source: Family of college student who died in Nashville files wrongful death lawsuit against fraternity.
