There has been a new development in a case involving the death of Riley Strain.
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Last year, the college student's parents sued the Delta Chi fraternity and the 32 members of its University of Missouri chapter after his death in Nashville. He had consumed a large amount of alcohol the evening of his death at 22 years of age.
Strain was then separated from his frat brothers after being kicked out of Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge Bar. He drowned after wandering the city drunk. The suit accused the fraternity of abandoning Strain.
What Is the Latest In the Riley Strain Case?
As reported by PEOPLE, on June 8, a judge in Missouri dismissed the Strain family's suit against his fraternity without prejudice.
The suit alleged that after Strain was kicked out of the bar, he "was abandoned and alone." His frat brothers kept on "partying" and "failed to notice" he was missing. They went to sleep before contacting his parents regarding his whereabouts the next day. They then called the authorities.
Two weeks after he went missing, Strain's body was discovered in a Tennessee river 8 miles from downtown Nashville.
The autopsy stated that Strain died by accidental drowning and ethanol intoxication. His blood alcohol content was measured at .228, nearly three times the legal limit.
The Case Was Partially Dismissed Last Year
The case was partially dismissed in December 2025, but the June 8 ruling dismissed the family's suit against the fraternity without prejudice.
At the time, the court acknowledged the "great sympathy" it had for Strain's family. However, it noted that it was "unaware of any court in the United States which has recognized the existence of a so-called 'special relationship' that might give rise to a claim for damages based on a duty owed by one adult fraternity member to another due to their shared status as 'fraternity brothers.'"
A lawyer for the Strain family said they plan to appeal. The Delta Chi Fraternity did not respond to PEOPLE for comment. However, it released a statement in March 2024.
It read, "Our hearts go out to Riley's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time as we work to provide support and resources to all those affected by this tragedy."
