What began as an early morning walk home ended in heartbreak for the family of Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old college student whose disappearance sparked a desperate search and tragic outcome.

Eliotte was last seen around 3:22 a.m. on July 20 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, after leaving Bronco’s Bar. Surveillance showed her walking south on Front Street South. A missing persons alert was issued later that day, prompting a widespread search by family, friends, and law enforcement.

On July 23, a fisherman called 911 after discovering a body in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota. Authorities later confirmed it was Eliotte. The cause of death is still under investigation.

La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron expressed condolences, saying, “This was not the outcome we had hoped for.” Viterbo University, where Eliotte was a student, also shared their grief, announcing plans for a memorial service this fall.

In the days leading up to the discovery, Eliotte’s mother, Amber Heinz, publicly pleaded for help, urging anyone with information or surveillance footage to come forward. She thanked the volunteers and the university community for their support, unaware of the devastating news that would follow.