A body has been discovered in Wisconsin, believed to be that of Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old graduate student who vanished after leaving a bar near the Mississippi River. The information was confirmed by the police.
Heinz was last observed on the 500 Block of Front Street South at about 3:22 am local time on July 20, following her visit to Bronco’s Bar in La Crosse, where she stayed until approximately 2:30 am. Eliotte was a student at Viterbo University.
Fox News reported that she was seen on surveillance cameras heading towards her apartment, located three-quarters of a mile away. Her sudden disappearance left her family seeking answers.
Before Eliotte’s body was found, her mother Amber made a public appeal for assistance, addressing a gathering at 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.”
Amber further urged: “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.”
The La Crosse Police Department later confirmed the tragic news that at around 10:28 am on July 23, the Houston County Sheriff’s Department informed them of a body discovery.
A statement from the police disclosed that Eliotte’s body was retrieved from the Mississippi River near Brownsville.
La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron expressed: “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 are still investigating the circumstances leading to the student’s tragic end and are awaiting autopsy results to ascertain the official cause of death.
“The entire department sends their condolences,” the statement concluded.
Rick Trietley, Viterbo University’s president, also issued a statement of sympathy: “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, during an interview with Fox and Friends, described her daughter as ‘beautiful inside and out’.