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
I had EIGHT miscarriages until I made a diet swap... now I have twins

After Eight Heartbreaking Miscarriages, a Simple Diet Change Led to the Joy of Twins

For years, Molly Brown embarked on a difficult journey to motherhood, facing…
Melissa Gilbert seen in court for her husband's pretrial hearing

Melissa Gilbert’s Courtroom Stand: Supporting Her Husband at High-Profile Pretrial Hearing

Melissa Gilbert, renowned for her role in “Little House on the Prairie,”…
Air Force One returning to Joint Base Andrews in Washington area due to minor electrical issue, White House says

Air Force One Makes Unexpected Return to Joint Base Andrews: White House Addresses Minor Electrical Glitch

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s aircraft, Air Force One, is making its…
DHS alleges criminal illegal alien 'rammed law enforcement' in California operation, agent fired weapon

California Law Enforcement Confrontation: DHS Accuses Illegal Alien of Ramming Officers, Agent Discharges Weapon

A federal agent discharged his weapon in Southern California on Wednesday after…
Cause of death revealed weeks after woman died following Universal Orlando ride: report

Shocking Discovery: Cause of Woman’s Tragic Death After Universal Orlando Ride Finally Unveiled

The identity and cause of death of a 70-year-old woman have been…
Gavin Newsom is DENIED entry to Trump's Davos clubhouse

Gavin Newsom Blocked from Entering Trump’s Exclusive Davos Gathering

Donald Trump has banned California Governor Gavin Newsom from entering the USA…
I was raised as a girl - but at 19, my world was shattered

Raised as a Girl, My World Transformed at 19

Kristi Ambrose’s childhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, mirrored that of many other…
Cause of death revealed for chess grandmaster who died aged 29

Cause of Death Unveiled for Chess Grandmaster Who Passed Away at 29

The recent release of a toxicology report has revealed that American chess…