What began as a quiet early morning walk home ended in heartbreak for the family of Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old student whose disappearance sparked a desperate search — and a devastating discovery days later.
A search for a missing college student has ended in tragedy. On July 23, authorities confirmed that 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz, who disappeared while walking home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, was found dead in the Mississippi River.
Eliotte was last seen at approximately 3:22 a.m. on July 20. Surveillance footage captured her walking southbound on the 500 block of Front Street South. At the time, she was wearing a white T-shirt and jean shorts. Her family said she was also spotted at Bronco’s Bar at about 2:30 a.m. and was believed to be walking home when she vanished.
The La Crosse Police Department issued a missing persons alert later that day, asking the public for any information. For several days, family, friends, and law enforcement searched the area, but found no trace of her.
On the morning of July 23, at around 10:28 a.m., the Houston County Sheriff’s Department notified La Crosse Police that a body had been located in the Mississippi River, near Brownsville, Minnesota. Authorities later confirmed the remains were those of Eliotte.
In a statement, La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron expressed condolences. “This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search,” he said. “Our thoughts are with Eliotte’s family, friends and all those who knew Eliotte.”
He expressed appreciation for the widespread support shown throughout La Crosse, across Wisconsin, and from people around the country. Police said the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy will determine the official cause of death.
The discovery came just hours after the La Crosse Police Department confirmed the search for Eliotte was still active. That morning, a key call changed the course of the investigation.
At approximately 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, the Houston County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a fisherman. He reported finding a body in the Mississippi River, just south of the Lawrence Lake Marina in Minnesota.
Emergency crews responded quickly. The La Crosse Dive Team and Medical Examiner recovered the body, which was later identified as Eliotte. Following confirmation of her death, Viterbo University — where Eliotte was a student—issued a statement mourning her loss.
“Viterbo University joins the Heinz family, the La Crosse community, and all who knew and loved Eliotte in mourning her tragic passing,” the university said. “We are heartbroken by this loss and extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.”
University President Dr. Rick Trietley said there were no words that could ease the pain of losing someone so young, with so much life ahead of her. He expressed that the university’s thoughts were with Eliotte’s family, adding that they were holding them in their prayers and standing with them in their grief.
The university also stated that a memorial service would be held in Eliotte’s honor this fall, in coordination with her family, once students return to campus. Additional details will be released in the coming weeks.
In the days before Eliotte was found, her mother, Amber Heinz, made a public appeal for help in locating her daughter. Speaking at a prayer service held on the Viterbo University campus, Amber thanked the volunteers who had come out earlier that Monday to post fliers and search the area.
Eliotte Heinz’s family asking the public to help find her taken from a video posted on July 21, 2025 | Source: YouTube/@TheLacrosseTribune
She also expressed gratitude to the university community for its ongoing support. Her message was clear: the family needed any possible information that could help bring Eliotte home.
“We ask that if you’ve seen anything, even if it’s small, anything at all, please call the La Crosse Police Department,” she told the crowd. She specifically addressed residents in the area who may have had surveillance cameras outside their homes.
“If you have Ring cameras and you think you might have captured an image of Eliotte, please call them, let them take a look at your footage,” she said. “Even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, it could be a really big deal for her.”
Amber also welcomed ongoing support, saying the family would be grateful for more prayers and for any volunteers willing to continue helping distribute fliers. At the time of the statement, the search for Eliotte was still underway, with no sign of what would be discovered just days later.
