Featured Image Credit: La Crosse Police Department
Topics: US News
Emily Brown
Police in Wisconsin have confirmed a body has been found in the search for 22-year-old graduate student Eliotte Heinz, who went missing after leaving a bar close to the Mississippi River.
Heinz, who was a student at Viterbo University, was last seen walking on the 500 Block of Front Street South at approximately 3:22am local time on July 20 after hanging out at Bronco's Bar in La Crosse until around 2:30am that morning.
According to Fox News, Eliotte was spotted on surveillance footage walking in the direction of her apartment, which was three-quarters of a mile away, before she disappeared, leaving family members desperate for answers.
Eliotte's mom, Amber, issued a plea for information before her daughter's body was found, telling a group who had gathered for a prayer service: "We ask that if you’ve seen anything, even if it’s small, anything at all, please call the La Crosse Police Department."
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Amber added: "If you have Ring cameras and you think you might have captured an image of Eliotte, please call them, let them take a look at your footage. Even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, it could be a really big deal for her."
Sadly, the La Crosse Police Department has now confirmed that at approximately 10:28am on July 23, it was notified by the Houston County Sheriff’s Department that a body had been located.
In a statement, the police department explained that Eliotte's body was found in the Mississippi River near Brownsville.
La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron commented: "This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search. Our thoughts are with Eliotte’s family, friends and all those who knew Eliotte. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from so many within the La Crosse community, the State of Wisconsin and nationally to locate Eliotte."
Police assured they are continuing to investigate what happened to the student, and are now awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
"The entire department sends their condolences," the statement added.
Rick Trietley, the president of Viterbo University, also shared his condolences in a statement, saying: "We are heartbroken by this loss and extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.
"There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone so young, with so much life ahead of her. Our hearts go out to Eliotte’s family. We hold them in our prayers and stand with them in their grief."
Amber told Fox and Friends her daughter was 'beautiful inside and out'.