Cause of death revealed for graduate student found dead in river after walking home from bar

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU/Gray News) — A cause of death has been determined for a 22-year-old graduate student in Wisconsin who died while walking home from a bar in July.

Eliotte Heinz, 22, was found dead July 23 in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota. She had been reported missing three days earlier.

An autopsy report obtained by WEAU from the La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office listed her cause of death as an accidental drowning.

The report noted there was no evidence of trauma.

Her toxicological studies were negative for drugs but positive for alcohol. The lab results showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.193 — more than twice the legal driving limit in Wisconsin.

According to WBAY, Heinz was from Hortonville, Wisconsin, and was studying at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Her body was found near Brownsville, Minnesota, about 10 miles downstream from the university.

According to the La Crosse Police Department, Heinz was reported missing on July 20 after she did not return home from a night out.

She was last seen walking in the 500 block of Front Street South around 3:20 a.m. after leaving a bar, officials said.

Multiple cameras captured Heinz leaving the bar. She was alone and did not appear in distress, officials said.

The cameras also captured her walking toward the river embankment.

Her smartwatch recorded her last steps at 4:30 a.m. and a final heart rate at 7:30 a.m. on July 20.

Investigators said there was no evidence of foul play or possible suicidal ideation.

At the time of her death, Viterbo University President Dr. Rick Trietley said in a statement, in part: “There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone so young, with so much life ahead of her. Our hearts go out to Eliotte’s family. We hold them in our prayers and stand with them in their grief.”