NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Massive search efforts ramp up nearly two weeks after 22-year-old Riley Strain went missing in downtown Nashville, garnering national attention.
This search expands from downtown to Ashland City. Thursday morning, volunteers signed up to assist in a ground search downtown, while several agencies joined forces by water in Cheatham County.
Thirteen days into the search for Strain and groups lined up and scattered out, hoping to find clues.
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Chris Whiteid, Strain's stepfather, says, "You know, we're still hopeful. No matter what. We're going home with him. One way or another." He adds, "So hopefully, we're praying for answers. We're hoping it's going to come in the next couple of days. But right now, we're just hopeful."
Whiteid says it’s still a very active search for a rescue. Those efforts continued in Cheatham County where EMA, TWRA and Ashland City Fire had crews on boats.
Edwin Hogan, the Emergency Management Director in Cheatham County, says, "Over time, things go downriver, so we're just searching here just in case."
More than 40 miles downstream from Nashville, Hogan says the search on open water comes with challenges.
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Hogan adds, "The biggest challenge is I don't think there's 100 percent certainty that he's in the water. Just because nobody saw. You know, it's like he disappeared, and that's it."David Berryman, a local volunteer, used his resources by air, flying his drone 150 feet off the water.
"Looking for anomalies on the bank essentially is what I'm looking for," said Berryman. "A lot of logs, a lot of tires, just anything that doesn't look quite right. Then I can zoom, fly right up to it, and investigate if necessary."
Berryman says having a family of his own motivated him to get out and help others in some of their toughest hours.
"If... if he's found, then it's closure for the family," said Berryman.
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