La Crosse community calls for safety measures after student found in river

La Crosse, wisc. – The tragic discovery of Viterbo College Graduated pupil Eliote Heinz’s physique within the Mississippi River this week De la Crosse, Wisconsin, Depart in Shock, remembered the 22-year-old for her candy angle and the revival of requires elevated vigilance within the bustling college metropolis.

Heinz disappeared at the start of Sunday whereas he walked dwelling after an evening out in bars with buddies. 4 days later, a fisherman discovered her physique within the Mississippi River close to Brownsville, Minnesota.

Jonathan Strike, who lives within the Heinz residence constructing, mentioned Fox Information that Heinz had moved only some months in the past, however her kindness radiated locally.

“Very candy, quiet lady,” mentioned Strike. “[She] All the time mentioned ‘Hi there’ each time she handed by. Since she had been withdrawn, [she] has all the time made an try to be as pleasant as she may be, even with my canine that jumps over everybody. It is simply heartbreaking. “

Authorities have been desperately in search of lacking Grad -student Eliote Heinz, 22, who was final seen on Sunday. She was discovered 4 days later within the River Mississippi. (Pictures due to Amber Heinz)

Fisherman discovered Wisconsin graduated pupil down within the river Mississippi Days after mysterious disappearance

“She made the neighborhood higher,” Strike mentioned, including that Heinz had recurrently pushed by way of the neighborhood. “If she ever had a foul day, we would not know. She by no means gave these vibes off. She was all the time completely satisfied, all the time candy, even on days when it was scorching and damp like at the moment.”

Though Heinz’s strike had by no means seen working or working within the early morning hours, he famous that it might not have been uncommon.

“This can be a college metropolis. I’m going to work at 2 o’clock and I nonetheless see them strolling … For probably the most half everybody does it. There are bars across the two blocks,” he mentioned. “I made my canine at 2 o’clock within the morning and it has by no means actually been an issue.”

Out of doors view of Bronco’s bar in La Crosse, Wi, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The bar is the final place the place the Late Viterbo Grad -Scholar Eliote Heinz was final seen on July 20. She was discovered useless on July 23. (LB/Splash for Fox Information Digital)

The shortage of Wisconsin Grad -student Eliote Heinz’s mom says that Cell has been discovered as a timeline of the police: Skilled

Though Strike lived in the identical constructing as Heinz, the information about her disappearance unfold so shortly that he came upon on social media.

“I came upon every little thing on Fb at the beginning,” he mentioned. “I’m from,” No, she will be able to’t be. ” Then I noticed her dad and mom throughout the road, and I simply left.

Though it’s unclear how Heinz ended up within the river, the native authorities mentioned on Friday that they don’t suspect false play. The analysis stays open in anticipation of definitive post-mortem outcomes.

Graduated pupil of Viterbo College, Eliote Heinz, was discovered useless on Thursday, July 24, 2025 within the Mississippi River in Brownsville, Wi. Her physique was found in opposition to a marine bar. (LB/Splash for Fox Information Digital)

Strike urged the neighborhood to test in on family and friends, and emphasised that “it might occur to everybody.”

‘Particularly not, particularly [during] Twilight, stroll dwelling, “he mentioned.”[It doesn’t] It would not matter how massive or small you might be. If you happen to do not feel protected … Name somebody, as a result of this might have prevented 100%. “

Wisconsin -student Eliote Heinz’s post-mortem reveals no false sport suspicious in loss of life: police

Allison Forst, who was within the counseling of psychological well being care with Heinz, described her as somebody who was all the time ‘actual smiley’, including that ‘it was troublesome to be unhappy round her’.

“I did [feel safe walking around downtown] Till this occurred, “mentioned Forst about Heinz’s disappearance.” I’m rather more harassed, simply strolling round alone and being alone. I all the time thought that La Crosse was pretty protected, and I wasn’t actually apprehensive about it. Now I am slightly extra scared. “

One other younger lady within the middle of La Crosse, who needed to stay nameless, emphasised the significance of staying in a bunch whereas consuming.

A poster by Eliote Heinz hangs within the middle of La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Wednesday 23 July 2025. (Stepheny Worth for Fox Information Digital)

“I’d say what number of buddies you provide you with, make certain the entire group is with you if you end up Barhopping, whenever you go dwelling to go dwelling,” mentioned the girl who grew up within the metropolis. “Use your neighborhood, use your folks and do not let anybody get dwelling, irrespective of how shut their residence is, as a result of the river is basically shut by.”

“I would really like buddies to stay up for buddies,” she added. “If there are additional security measures that we will take by way of the river throughout these bar instances, that will be nice. I actually haven’t got all of the solutions. I simply need our college students and residents of the middle to be protected.”

View: Ladies deal with La Crosse Security after the loss of life of Wisconsin Grad Scholar

Though native officers have remained fairly silent in regards to the security issues close to the river within the days after Heinz’s loss of life, municipal councilor Lisa Weston, who represents District 12, instructed FOX Information Digital that potential modifications within the middle aren’t “excluded”.

Eliote Heinz, 22, graduated from Viterbo College. (Pictures due to Amber Heinz)

Mom of Lacking Wisconsin Grad -Scholar argues for the return of her daughter: ‘Attempting to remain constructive’

“I feel it is all the time price speaking about adequate public security,” mentioned Weston. “I do not assume the loss of life of a teenager additionally wants an summary of our security protocols. Sadly, La Crosse has had a historical past of dropping younger individuals within the river within the final 30 years. So sadly it isn’t new, and it makes it no much less tragic.”

The College of Wisconsin River Watch, a program began in 2006 to forestall alcohol-related unintentional drowning, reported that eight college students within the Mississippi river drowned on account of extreme consuming between 1997 and 2006.

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Weston added that she thinks sooner or later that there might be a continuing dialog in regards to the security of the river within the metropolis middle.

“It won’t solely be town police, it won’t solely be town council, it’ll even be leaders throughout the neighborhood that can weigh,” she mentioned.