Latest news with #LaCrosse
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Wisconsin student Eliotte Heinz's Mississippi River death reignites safety concerns in college town
LA CROSSE, Wisc. – The tragic discovery of Viterbo University graduate student Eliotte Heinz's body in the Mississippi River this week left the La Crosse, Wisconsin, community in shock, remembering the 22-year-old for her sweet demeanor and reigniting calls for increased vigilance in the bustling college town. Heinz disappeared early Sunday while walking home after a night out at bars with friends. Four days later, a fisherman found her body in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota. Jonathan Strike, who lives in Heinz's apartment building, told Fox News that Heinz had only moved in a few months ago, but her kindness radiated in the community. "Very sweet, quiet girl," Strike said. "[She] always said 'Hi' every time she walked by. Ever since she moved in, [she] always made an attempt to be as friendly as she can be, even with my dog jumping all over everybody. It's just heartbreaking." "She made the neighborhood better," Strike said, adding that Heinz had regularly run through the neighborhood. "If she ever had a bad day, we wouldn't know. She never gave off those vibes. She was always happy, always sweet, even on days when it was hot and humid like today." While Strike hadn't ever seen Heinz walking or running in the early morning hours, he noted it wouldn't have been unusual. "This is a college town. I go to work at 2 a.m. and I still see them walking … for the most part, everybody does it. There are bars every two blocks," he said. "I've taken my dog for a walk at 2 a.m., and it's never been really an issue." Even though Strike lived in the same building as Heinz, the news of her disappearance spread so quickly, he found out about it on social media. "I found out on Facebook before anything," he said. "I'm like, 'No, that can't be her.' Then I saw her parents across the street, and I just broke down. They were trying very hard to hold out hope, and it was a rough few days. I'm just glad she's in a better place now." While it is unclear how Heinz ended up in the river, local authorities on Friday said they do not suspect any foul play. The investigation remains open pending final autopsy results. Strike urged the community to check in on friends and family, emphasizing tht "it could happen to anybody." "Don't ever, especially [during] twilight, walk home," he said. "[It doesn't] matter how big or small you are. If you don't feel safe … call somebody, because this could have been prevented 100%." Allison Forst, who was in the mental health counseling program with Heinz, described her as someone who was always "really smiley," adding that "it was hard to be sad around her." "I did [feel safe walking around downtown] until this happened," Forst said about Heinz's disappearance. "I'm a lot more stressed just walking around on my own and being on my own. I always thought La Crosse was pretty safe, and I didn't really have any worries about it. Now, I'm a little more apprehensive." Another young woman in downtown La Crosse, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed the importance of remaining in a group while drinking. "I'd say, however many friends you come with, make sure that entire group is with you when you're bar hopping, when you are leaving to go home," said the woman, who grew up in the city. "Use your community, use your friends, and don't let anyone get home on their own, no matter how close their apartment is, because the river is real close." "I would love for friends to look out for friends," she added. "If there are any extra safety precautions we can take by the river during those bar times, that would be awesome. I truly don't have all the answers. I just want our students and downtown residents to be safe." WATCH: Women address La Crosse safety after Wisconsin grad student death While local officials have remained fairly quiet about the safety concerns near the river in the days following Heinz's death, City Council Member Lisa Weston, who represents District 12, told Fox News Digital that potential changes in downtown are not "out of the question." "I think it's always worth having conversations about adequate public safety," Weston said. "I don't think it also takes the death of a young person to require a review of our safety protocols. Unfortunately, La Crosse has had a history of losing young folks in the river over the last 30 years. So, unfortunately, it's not new, and it doesn't make it any less tragic." The University of Wisconsin River Watch, a program started in 2006 to prevent alcohol-related accidental drownings, reported that eight college students drowned in the Mississippi River as a result of excessive drinking between 1997 and 2006. Weston added that going forward, she thinks there will be an ongoing conversation about river safety in the downtown area. "It won't just be city police, it won't just be the city council, it will also be leaders within the community that will weigh in," she said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police: No signs of criminal conduct in death of Wisconsin graduate student
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities in western Wisconsin say there is no indication of criminal activity in the death of 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz, though the investigation remains ongoing. In an update Friday, the La Crosse Police Department said preliminary findings do not suggest any criminal conduct in connection with Heinz's death. Section of Center Valley Road in Outagamie County closed due to culvert collapse Officers say they are continuing to follow up on information related to the case, and final autopsy results are not expected for several months. The investigation remains open at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Fox News
Neighbor discusses disappearance of Wisconsin grad student
A neighbor of Eliotte Heinz discussed her kind personality, devastating disappearance and the safety of the La Crosse, Wisconsin area.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Fox News
Wisconsin student Eliotte Heinz's autopsy shows no foul play suspected in death: police
LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Authorities believe there was no foul play in the death of 22-year-old graduate student Eliotte Heinz, who was found dead Wednesday in the Mississippi River after vanishing over the weekend in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The La Crosse Police Department said on Friday that, based on the preliminary autopsy results, it does not believe there was any criminal conduct related to Heinz's death. The Viterbo University student disappeared Sunday morning after a night out at bars with friends, Fox News Digital previously reported. Heinz was last seen walking along the Mississippi River waterfront at about 3:30 a.m., and was spotted on surveillance footage heading toward her apartment, which was less than a mile away. Four days into the search, a young fisherman found her body face down, wrapped in duckweed in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota. It remains unclear how she ended up in the river. Final autopsy results will not be completed for several months, and investigators will continue to follow up on information, according to a statement from the police department. The investigation remains open. The University of Wisconsin River Watch, a program started in 2006 to prevent alcohol-related accidental drownings, reported that between 1997 and 2006, eight college students drowned in the Mississippi River as a result of excessive drinking. Heinz's family previously told Fox News Digital they are embarking on a path to healing. "Eliotte is a beautiful person," the Heinz family wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. "She was smart, funny, caring, and loved fiercely by us. 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. We are devastated that she is no longer with us. Our family will forever have a missing piece. "We cannot thank our family, friends, the La Crosse community, Viterbo University, or the La Crosse PD enough for showing up for Eliotte. They were an amazing light in an incredibly dark space. Eliotte's walk home is finished. Unfortunately, our family's walk down this new hard path is just beginning. We love you Eliotte." The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office; Houston County Sheriff's Office; Jackson County Sheriff's Office; Vernon County Sheriff's Office; La Crescent Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice; Division of Criminal Investigations; Fort McCoy Fire and Rescue; U.S. Fish and Wildlife; La Crosse Fire Department; La Crosse Dive and Rescue; Wisconsin DNR; Minnesota DNR; La Crosse County Medical Examiner Office; Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office-Mayo Clinic; and Viterbo University assisted in the investigation.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Eliotte Heinz's death was NOT foul play, cops announce - but they won't say what happened to her
A graduate student found dead in the Mississippi River after disappearing while walking home from a night out was not the victim of a criminal act, investigators have said. Police in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, shared an update Friday morning saying they 'do not believe' Eliotte Heinz, 22, died as the result of 'any criminal conduct.' But the press release did not offer any further detail on how Heinz died and it added that it will be 'several months' before a final autopsy is available. Heinz, a student at Viterbro College, disappeared in the early hours of Sunday while walking along the Mississippi in La Crosse's downtown area. Her body was recovered on Wednesday morning, floating downstream near Brownsville, Minnesota - more than 10 miles from where she was last seen. It remains unclear how Heinze ended up in the river. La Crosse PD said their investigation will remain active as they await final autopsy results for an official cause of death. 'The La Crosse Police Department continues to follow-up on information surrounding the death of Eliotte Heinz,' the department said Friday. 'Based on the preliminary autopsy results, we do not believe there was any criminal conduct related to Eliotte's death. Final autopsy results will not be completed for several months.'
