Wisconsin graduate student vanishes after late-night walk; desperate family pleads for help
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Authorities are searching for a 22-year-old graduate student who went missing early Sunday morning in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Eliotte Heinz was last seen walking near the waterfront just before 3:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the La Crosse Police Department.

Less than an hour before she was last seen, she was with friends at Bronco’s Bar in the city’s downtown area. The bar closed at 2:30 a.m.

Her family, friends and police made several attempts to locate her with no success, officials said in a statement.

Eliotte Heinz, 22, is a gradudate student at Viterbo University.

Eliotte Heinz, 22, is a gradudate student at Viterbo University. (Photos courtesy of Amber Heinz)

The incident comes six years after University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson, 21, was kidnapped and murdered by Nathaniel Rowland, who was posing as a rideshare driver, on March 29, 2019.

On the way home from the college town’s Five Points bar scene, in the early morning hours, Josephson mistook Rowland’s car for an Uber and was abducted.

During a police search for Josephson, an eerily similar sidewalk photo to Heinz’s was distributed by local authorities.

Nathaniel Rowland was found guilty in the 2019 killing of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson.

Nathaniel Rowland was found guilty in the 2019 killing of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson. (Columbia Police Department via AP)

However, Heinz’s mother told Fox News Digital it is unclear if her daughter was attempting to call an Uber or Lyft when she disappeared.

Uber and Lyft did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Josephson was stabbed more than 100 times, and her body was later found in a wooded area more than an hour from her pickup location.

State Circuit Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Rowland to life in prison.

Anyone with information about Heinz’s whereabouts is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 608-782-7575. 

Information can also be sent anonymously to La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS or submitted online at https://www.p3tips.com/459.

The La Crosse Police Department declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment, citing the active investigation.

Bronco’s Bar did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
IDF holds memorial ceremony at base attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7 honoring fallen troops

IDF Honors Fallen Soldiers in Emotional Memorial at Site of Hamas Attack

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) held a solemn ceremony at…
KISS icon on life support after brain bleed

KISS Legend Battles for Life: Brain Bleed Puts Rock Icon on Life Support

Ace Frehley, the iconic guitarist from KISS, is in a critical battle…
ICE officers must wear bodycams, judge rules, amid Chicago clashes

Federal Judge Mandates Bodycams for ICE Officers Following Chicago Protests

In a significant move, an Illinois judge has mandated that federal officers…
State of Taylor Swift's friendship with Blake Lively revealed

Unveiling the Current Status of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s Friendship

It appears that Taylor Swift has not been in touch with her…
Blake Lively's salary for starring in It Ends With Us revealed

Blake Lively’s Paycheck for ‘It Ends With Us’ Finally Uncovered

Blake Lively’s earnings for her role in the much-discussed film “It Ends…
US military drone strike on drug 'submersible' in Caribbean leaves survivors, official confirms

US Military Drone Strike Targets Drug Submersible in Caribbean, Survivors Confirmed

A U.S. military drone executed a strike on a drug-smuggling vessel in…
Jake Haro's early guilty plea for son's murder surprises attorney

Attorney Taken Aback as Jake Haro Pleads Guilty Early in Son’s Murder Case

The unexpected timing of Jake Haro’s guilty plea in the tragic case…
Zohran Mamdani comes under fire for refusing to denounce Hamas

Controversy Erupts: Zohran Mamdani’s Stance on Hamas Sparks Heated Debate

During a recent debate, Zohran Mamdani, the favored socialist candidate for New…