Autopsy Rules Accidental Drowning in Death of 22-Year-Old Viterbo Student Eliotte Heinz

An autopsy has determined that 22-year-old graduate student Eliotte Heinz died from an accidental drowning after her body was recovered from the Mississippi River days after she disappeared in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Viterbo University/FacebookEliotte Heinz

Timeline And Recovery

Heinz was last observed walking southbound on the 500 block of Front Street South, near the Mississippi River in La Crosse, at approximately 3:22 a.m. local time on July 20, according to the La Crosse Police Department. After an extensive search by police and community volunteers, her body was recovered from the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota — roughly 10 miles downstream from Viterbo University — on July 23.

Jill Clardy/GettyThe Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Autopsy And Toxicology Findings

The La Crosse County Medical Examiner's Office reported that the cause of death was accidental drowning. Examiners found no evidence of physical trauma, and the manner of death was listed as accidental. Toxicology testing showed a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.193 and no drugs detected.

Community And Family Response

Heinz, a graduate student at Viterbo University, had been at Bronco's Bar in La Crosse about an hour before she was last seen, university officials said. Family members told local media that she was walking home when she disappeared. La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron thanked the public for their support during the search, saying that the result was not what they had hoped for and that his thoughts were with Heinz's family and friends.

'We don't know why we were so blessed to have her as a daughter or why we are unable to keep her. She is amazing and would have continued to amaze us,' the family said in a statement. 'Eliotte's walk home is finished. Unfortunately, our family's walk down this new hard path is just beginning. We love you, Eliotte.'

The La Crosse County Medical Examiner's Office and local news outlets provided the details of the investigation and findings. PEOPLE magazine reported it had reached out to the medical examiner for comment. The case drew significant community attention and condolences as authorities closed their investigation with the medical examiner's report.