Eliotte Heinz
Eliotte Heinz, a student, whose body was found in River Mississippi. La Crosse Police Department

A 22-year-old graduate student from Wisconsin was found dead in the Mississippi River on Wednesday, when police stopped her search that began after she vanished in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Eliotte Heinz was last seen on 20 July, leaving the Bronco Bar in La Crosse, Wisconsin. CCTV footage later captured her walking alone along the Riverwalk in downtown La Crosse, her final known movements.

A Night Out That Turned Into a Search Effort

What began as a routine Saturday night out ended in tragedy. After Eliotte failed to return home or respond to messages, her family reported her missing.

Police launched a large-scale search involving drones, dive teams, and volunteers. As days passed with no sign of her, concern grew across the La Crosse community and beyond.

The search ended on Wednesday, 23 July, when her body was discovered in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota, approximately 15 miles downriver from where she was last seen. Authorities confirmed.

Police Say Investigation Remains Active

Police have stated that, based on initial findings, there is no immediate indication of foul play. However, the case remains under active investigation. A complete autopsy and toxicology screening are being carried out to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Authorities are continuing to ask anyone who may have been in the Riverwalk area of La Crosse between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, to contact them with any information, no matter how minor it may seem.

A Community Grieves for Eliotte

Eliotte Heinz was more than just a student; friends and family knew her as a kind-hearted, intelligent, and profoundly compassionate individual. Initially from Hortonville, Wisconsin, she was pursuing postgraduate studies at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

The university's president, Dr. Rick Trietley, issued a public statement saying: '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.'

Her mother described her as having 'the biggest heart and unending kindness for everyone.' Tributes have poured in from classmates, tutors, and residents, many of whom joined the efforts to help find her.

Remembered With Love and Respect

In both Hortonville and La Crosse, vigils are being planned to honour Eliotte's life. Flowers and notes have been placed near the Riverwalk where she was last seen, turning a quiet stretch of pavement into a space of mourning and remembrance.

Online, the hashtag #JusticeForEliotte has spread, not as a rallying cry for blame, but as a collective moment of grief, a space for friends, strangers, and those touched by her story to reflect, remember, and hold her close.

What Happens Next?

While many questions remain unanswered, the coming days may offer more clarity through the medical examiner's findings. Police say their investigation remains active, and the community continues to support the Heinz family as they process an unimaginable loss.

In a statement shared through law enforcement, the family wrote: 'Thank you to everyone who searched, supported, and sent love. Eliotte was our light, and we will never forget her.'

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