Autopsy Results Suggest No Foul Play in Death of 22-Year-Old Graduate Student

Strategic Insights -

Authorities in La Crosse, Wisconsin, believe that 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz's death was not a result of foul play, according to preliminary autopsy results. Heinz, a Viterbo University student, went missing on Sunday morning after a night out with friends and was found dead four days later in the Mississippi River. The investigation remains open, with final autopsy results pending.

Key Takeaways:

  • Preliminary autopsy results suggest no foul play in the death of Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old graduate student.
  • Heinz was last seen walking along the Mississippi River waterfront at around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and was spotted on surveillance footage heading toward her apartment, which was less than a mile away.
  • A young fisherman found Heinz's body face down, wrapped in duckweed in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota, four days after her disappearance.
  • The investigation is ongoing, with final autopsy results pending and further information expected in several months.
  • The University of Wisconsin River Watch program reported that between 1997 and 2006, eight college students drowned in the Mississippi River as a result of excessive drinking.
  • Heinz's family has spoken out about their loss, describing her as a "beautiful person" who was "smart, funny, caring, and loved fiercely" by them.
  • A statement from the La Crosse Police Department confirmed that no criminal conduct was related to Heinz's death, but the investigation remains open.

Statistics:

  • 22: The age of Eliotte Heinz at the time of her death.
  • 1997-2006: The time period during which eight college students drowned in the Mississippi River as a result of excessive drinking, according to the University of Wisconsin River Watch program.
  • 8: The number of college students who drowned in the Mississippi River due to excessive drinking, according to the University of Wisconsin River Watch program.
  • 3:30 a.m.: The time of day when Heinz was last seen walking along the Mississippi River waterfront.

Sources:

  • "Authorities believe there was no foul play in death of 22-year-old graduate student", Fox News Digital, July 26, 2025.
  • "La Crosse Police Department statement on Heinz's death", La Crosse Police Department.
  • "University of Wisconsin River Watch", University of Wisconsin River Watch program.