Two separate incidents have gripped the communities in Nashville, Tennessee, and London, UK, as authorities are engaged in investigations surrounding the disappearance of two university students.

In Nashville, Riley Strain, a 22-year-old student from the University of Missouri, was reported missing following a night out with his fraternity brothers on Friday, 8 March 2024. Lost after leaving a bar owned by country music star Luke Bryan around 9:45 pm, Riley was last caught on CCTV footage crossing a nearby street. Standing 6-foot-5, with blonde hair and blue eyes, Strain was in the city for his fraternity’s annual spring trip. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has launched an extensive search, employing helicopters and ground detectives, while Bryan has publicly expressed his concern and is actively participating in the investigation by providing security footage from his establishment. The University of Missouri has begun offering counselling resources amidst the ongoing search to ensure the community’s wellbeing.

Across the Atlantic, in London, the Metropolitan Police are investigating the tragic discovery of a body in the River Thames, believed to be that of 19-year-old SOAS University student Samaria Ayanle. Reported missing by university staff, Ayanle was last seen near Marble Arch almost three weeks before her disappearance was noted. The police are treating the death as unexplained pending further investigation, with formal identification of the body yet ongoing. Samaria, a first-year student studying Japanese and the History of Art, is mourned by the SOAS community, which has extended its support to her family, friends, and anyone affected by this distressing event.

Both incidents have sparked widespread concern and efforts to understand the circumstances leading to Riley Strain’s disappearance and Samaria Ayanle’s untimely death. As investigations continue, the respective communities hold onto hope for clarity and resolution in these distressing cases.