Family Of Riley Strain Files Lawsuit Against Fraternity One Year After His Death
on Mar 24, 2025
University of Missouri student Riley Strain’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his fraternity on Friday (March 21).
Riley Strain, 22, was found deceased in Nashville’s Cumberland River on March 22, 2024, two weeks after he disappeared. Now, his family has filed a lawsuit in hopes of holding those who they think are responsible accountable.
Riley Strain traveled to Nashville in early March with his Delta Chi fraternity for their annual spring formal trip. Upon arrival in Music City, the students visited several downtown bars. Strain and several of his fraternity brothers were drinking at Luke’s 32 Bridge Food & Drink, a bar owned by country singer Luke Bryan.
An investigation revealed that Riley had been kicked out of the bar for being “verbally aggressive” with staff. When the Mizzou student exited the bar, he aimlessly wandered through downtown Nashville alone. The following day he was reported missing, triggering a massive search.
RELATED: FOOTAGE SHOW THE MOMENTS THAT LED TO RILEY STRAIN BEING KICKED OUT OF LUKE BRYAN’S BAR
Two weeks later, Riley’s body was discovered near the bank of the Cumberland River, about 8 miles from where authorities think he entered the water.
The toxicology report revealed that Strain’s blood alcohol content was .228, more than twice the legal limit. In addition, Delta 9, caffeine, nicotine, and marijuana were found in his system.
The coroner concluded that Riley’s death was accidental due to drowning and ethanol intoxication.
One year after Riley’s body was found, his family filed a lawsuit against his fraternity.
Riley Strain’s father, stepmother, mother, and stepfather filed the wrongful death lawsuit in the Boone County Circuit Court on Friday (March 21). The suit names more than two dozen Delta Chi members and leaders and accuses them of negligence that ultimately led to Strain’s tragic death.
The suit claims that fraternity members noticed that Riley “struggled to speak, walk and interact with others.” Upon arrival at Luke Bryan’s bar, Strain was “leaning against walls to stay upright, stumbling up and down steps, and was completely unable to speak or communicate, and needed help,” according to the lawsuit.
“When a bar kicked Riley out, Riley’s fraternity brothers had two options: 1) go with Riley, make sure he was safe, and take care of him; or 2) continue to party. Riley’s Delta Chi brothers chose to continue partying,” the lawsuit reads.
It further accuses his fraternity brothers of abandoning him and failing to call 911 when they realized he was missing.
“There was no search, no panic, and no one called 911 to report that Riley had failed to make the twelve (12) minute walk back to the hotel in over three hours. The fraternity brothers did not even think to call Riley’s parents, they simply got ready for bed and went to sleep,” the lawsuit reads.
The family requested a jury trial and is seeking damages for medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as compensation for his pain and suffering before his death.
