15 March 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (KOLR/NEXSTAR) – The management of Luke’s 32 Bridge — the namesake Nashville bar of country star Luke Bryan — is cooperating with an investigation into missing Missouri student Riley Strain, according to a statement the management posted to Facebook.
Strain, 22, went missing after becoming separated from his fraternity brothers on March 8 following a visit to the venue.
Strain’s friends have claimed they last saw him around 9:45 p.m. on March 8, when he had been kicked out of the Broadway bar. Surveillance footage later appeared to show Strain stumbling and struggling to stand up straight.
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) confirmed Thursday that the agency was investigating “whether Mr. Strain was served alcohol while he was visibly intoxicated,” a representative for the TABC told NBC News.
In the bar’s Facebook post, the operators of Luke’s 32 Bridge are claiming Strain was only served one alcoholic beverage that night.
“During Riley’s visit to Luke’s 32 Bridge, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters,” reads a statement posted to the venue’s Facebook page on Friday. “At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.
“Our prayers continue to be with Riley’s friends and family during this difficult time and for his safe return.”
Luke Bryan had already shared a short statement on Strain’s disappearance earlier this week, calling it “scary” and writing on Instagram that he’s “praying for [Strain’s] safe return.”
Strain family friend Chris Dingman is also hopeful the TABC’s involvement will increase the amount of resources available to search for Riley.
“Authorities are now doing an investigation into the bar,” said Dingman. “What that means to me is all alcohol, beer, liquor, and wine is all federally regulated. So when they got brought into this, that now means we will have even more resources than we currently have with Metropolitan Police.”
Riley Strain had gone missing during a visit to Nashville for a fraternity conference with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers. His friend discovered he was not at their hotel on Saturday morning and alerted his family.
“It’s your worst nightmare, really,” Ryan Gilbert, Strain’s father, said.