‘Hug your babies tight’: Family expresses gratitude hours after recovery of Riley Strain’s body in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The family of Riley Strain and others gathered at the Metro Nashville Police Department Headquarters Friday evening to express their gratitude after the 22-year-old’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River on Friday.

Strain’s father, Ryan Gilbert, began a press conference with a word of thanks to those involved in the search.

“And those of you that helped us keep Riley’s face in front of the cameras, you’ve helped us get some closure here and let us take our boy home. I got a lot of people to thank, and I’m sure I’ll forget somebody. You won’t be forgotten. I’ll remember you. The whole family will remember you,” he said.

Next, stepfather Chris Whiteid spoke and echoed the message of gratitude.

“To the people in Nashville. I can’t thank you enough for the support, the love, the encouragement that you’ve shown myself and my wife, and Ryan, and Millie. You don’t understand how much that meant to us. In some of our darkest hours, the hugs, the prayers, the offers. I can’t say it enough, thank you,” he said.

Lastly, his mother, Michelle Whiteid, spoke and implored all of the mothers out in the world to hug their babies tight.

“I just want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone. And how much we appreciate everyone’s support and love and prayers, because we feel them. We felt every one of them. Every single one. I just ask that you mamas out there. Hug your babies tight tonight. Please. Please for me to hug your babies tight tonight. And again, thank you. Thank you for sharing our story,” she said.

The University of Missouri student’s body was found eight miles downriver from where he was last seen and still had on the shirt he was wearing when he went missing on March 8 after getting kicked out of Luke’s 32 Bridge in Downtown Nashville, according to Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake.

Authorities do not suspect foul play in his disappearance nor his death, Drake said just hours after the 22-year-old was found dead.

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