An investigator hired by Riley Strain‘s family labeled autopsy and toxicology results disseminated last weekend as “lies.”
Furthermore, Steve Fischer says when both are officially released, they’ll report very different findings.
- Riley Strain went missing after visiting Luke’s 32 Bridge Bar in Nashville on March 8. His body was pulled from the Cumberland River two weeks later.
- The full autopsy and toxicology report are expected soon.
- The 22-year-old’s family has ordered a second autopsy to be finished at a later date.
Related: Was Riley Strain Drugged? Mom Hints at the Possibility
The toxicology report was reportedly finished one month ago but was held until the full autopsy was complete. Last Thursday (June 6), News Channel 5 in Nashville reported that everything was finished, and that all signs point toward an accidental death and drowning.
The lack of sourcing in that article troubled Fischer, who said neither he nor the family had heard anything from the medical examiner.
Fast forward to Sunday (June 10) when another private investigator named Jennifer Coffindaffer sent this to her followers on X (formerly Twitter):
Over the next 48 hours, Fischer and his followers engaged with Coffindaffer and her followers in a way that can safely be described as acrimonious.
“The tweet from Coffindaffer is completely wrong,” Fischer writes. “As of 1 PM Nashville time on June 10, 2024, the autopsy of Riley Strain is still pending.”
Later he’d attack Coffindaffer’s credentials with a message that appears to show an email exchange with a MNPD detective confirming law enforcement (LE) had not seen the medical examiner’s report.
“@CoffindafferFBI is literally the joke amongst law enforcement,” he wrote in a since-deleted tweet that also labeled her a “tabloid commentator.”
In another since-deleted tweet, Fischer shared what looked like the actual toxicology report, redacted. “As usual, her findings are wrong,” he says.
“Out of respect to the family Im not going to comment on the tox report any further until it’s officially released,” Fischer adds. “I will only comment if I get a statement from Dr. Li at the Medical Examiners Office. I contacted him about @CoffindafferFBI lies and asked him to provide a statement. If he does I will post it, otherwise I will comment after it’s released. Trust me, Jennifer is lying. That’s all i have to say about it”
Twitter.com/SF_Investigates
Coffindaffer continues to stand by her story. The truth should be clear soon, as the full autopsy is said to be scheduled for release either this week or next.
After Strain’s body was recovered, police said there was no reason to suspect foul play. Investigators have not said anything publicly that contradicts that assessment.
Billy Dukes is a Senior Editor and Executive Producer of Video Content at Taste of Country. He specializes in country music interviews, trend analysis and the Secret History of Country Music. Additionally, Billy covers Yellowstone, 1923 and related television shows through the Dutton Rules podcast. To date, he’s written more than 13,000 articles for Taste of Country and produced over 3,000 videos for the Taste of Country YouTube channel.
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Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes