The tragic case of a Wisconsin graduate student discovered dead in the Mississippi River has been concluded as an accidental drowning, as confirmed by local authorities. The student, Eliotte Heinz, 22, was found without any signs of trauma. The La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.193, more than twice the legal limit for driving in the state, at the time of her death on July 20.

Heinz, who was pursuing a degree in mental health counseling at Viterbo College, had no drugs in her system. Witnesses indicated she appeared calm when she departed Bronco’s Bar located in downtown La Crosse around 2:30 a.m., as noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Surveillance footage captured Heinz walking in a south-southwest direction until 3:39 a.m., when she was recorded moving towards the Mississippi River’s main channel bank, according to WEAU. Further video evidence showed her emerging from the water shortly after 4 a.m., only to be seen heading back towards the riverbank.

This sequence of events, coupled with the absence of foul play, led authorities to determine that Heinz’s death was a tragic accident. The incident underscores the potential dangers of high alcohol consumption and its impact on decision-making and personal safety.

Heinz was again captured on surveillance footage leaving the water shortly after 4am – at which point, authorities said, she returned in the opposite direction back to the embankment.

The grad student’s last steps were recorded on her smart watch half an hour later, and her final heart beat was recorded at 7.30am.

But it wasn’t until 10.26 that morning that La Crosse police were first alerted to Heinz’s disappearance, when family and friends who were worried that she did not return home asked authorities to conduct a welfare check on the 22-year-old.

The call sparked a frantic four-day long search across the college town, before a fisherman spotted her remains floating in the water face down and wrapped in duckweed in Brownsville, Minnesota – more than 10 miles from where Heinz was last seen.

Eliotte Heinz, 22, died of an accidental drowning on July 20, authorities have confirmed

Heinz’s body was ultimately found floating in the water face down and wrapped in duckweed in Brownsville, Minnesota – more than 10 miles from where she was last seen 

The grad student at Viterbo University was caught on multiple surveillance cameras walking south-southwest in La Crosse, Wisconsin until 3.39am on July 20, when she was seen moving toward the bank of the main channel of the Mississippi River

Police then determined that there was not ‘any criminal conduct’ involved in Heinz’s death. 

They now note they found no evidence of foul play or possible suicidal ideation on her cellphone – which was recovered by Heinz’s friends during the search efforts – or any other electronics that were left at her home.

‘This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search,’ La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron said on July 24, announcing Heinz’s death.

‘Our thoughts are with Eliotte’s family, friends and all those who knew Eliotte.’

Heinz’s alma mater also released a statement, mourning her passing.

‘There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone so young, with so much life ahead of her,’ said Viterbo University President Dr. Rick Trietley.

‘Our hearts go out to Eliotte’s family. We hold them in our prayers and stand with them in their grief.’

Police have previously said they did not believe ‘any criminal conduct’ was involved in Heinz’s death

Following the news of her death, Heinz’s devastated family (pictured) paid tribute to their ‘beautiful girl,’ who they remembered as smart, funny, caring, and loved by all who knew her

Following the news of Heinz’s death, her devastated family paid tribute to their ‘beautiful girl,’ who they remembered as smart, funny, caring, and loved by all who knew her.

‘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,’ her family wrote.

‘We are devastated that she is no longer with us,’ they continued. ‘Our family will forever have a missing piece.’

‘Eliotte’s walk home is finished. Unfortunately, our family’s walk down this new hard path is just beginning.’