Following the terrible discovery of 22-year-old graduate student Eliotte Heinz’s body in the Mississippi River three days after she vanished, Wisconsin authorities have provided additional information.
The La Crosse Police Department said in a statement on Friday, July 25, that preliminary autopsy results do not indicate that Heinz’s death was the result of criminal conduct. Officials pointed out that although the investigation is ongoing, the final autopsy report might not be finished for several months.
On Sunday, July 20, at around 3:22 a.m., Heinz was last saw strolling south along the 500 block of Front Street South, just a short way from the riverfront. According to Viterbo University, where she was a graduate student, she had been at Bronco’s Bar earlier that evening.
Her failure to return home was reported missing by family members. On Wednesday, July 23, her body was found in the river downstream from La Crosse, close to Brownsville, Minnesota.
In a statement, La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron said, “This was not the result we had hoped for throughout this search.” We are thinking of Eliotte’s friends, family, and everyone she impacted.
Eliotte’s family thanked the La Crosse community, Viterbo University, and local law enforcement for their support following their sad loss.
The family told ABC station WISN, “You have all been an amazing light in an incredibly dark space.” We have no idea why we are unable to keep her or why we were so fortunate to have her as a daughter. She is incredible and would have never ceased to astound us. The fact that she is no longer among us breaks our hearts. There will always be a gap in our family.
Police are asking the public to wait for the complete findings of the ongoing investigation and final autopsy, even though they currently believe there was no foul play involved.
