No foul play is suspected within the demise of lacking Wisconsin graduate scholar Eliotte Heinz, whose physique was discovered within the Mississippi River Wednesday following an enormous four-day search, police confirmed.
Preliminary post-mortem outcomes counsel no legal conduct was concerned within the 22-year-old’s tragic demise, the La Crosse Police Division introduced Friday.
Police stated the investigation will stay energetic as they await remaining post-mortem outcomes to find out the official reason for demise, which may take a number of months to finish.
Heinz, a scholar enrolled in Viterbo College’s psychological well being counseling program, vanished early Sunday whereas strolling residence from an evening out in downtown La Crosse.
She had spent the night on the Bronco Bar with mates, who stated she left to go residence round 2:30 a.m. About 50 minutes later, she was captured on safety footage strolling close to the Mississippi River waterfront — the final time she was seen.
Her devastated family members reported her lacking Sunday morning after a number of failed makes an attempt to achieve her, sparking an exhaustive, days-long search involving police and group volunteers.
Her physique was discovered Wednesday morning about 10 miles downriver close to Brownsville, Minn.
“This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search,” La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron stated in an announcement following the grim discovery.
Heinz’s heartbroken household remembered her as an attractive, caring and clever younger girl, whereas thanking the volunteers and police who aided within the painstaking search.
“We don’t know why we were so blessed to have her as a daughter or why we are unable to keep her,” her household wrote in a heart-wrenching assertion, WISN reported.
“She is wonderful and would have continued to amaze us. We’re devastated that she is now not with us. Our household will eternally have a lacking piece.
“We cannot thank our family, friends, the La Crosse community, Viterbo University, or the La Crosse PD enough for showing up for Eliotte. They were an amazing light in an incredibly dark space. Eliotte’s walk home is finished. Unfortunately, our family’s walk down this new hard path is just beginning.”
The school will maintain a memorial service for Heinz, in coordination along with her household, when college students return to campus within the fall.
