The body of Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old graduate student missing since early Sunday, July 20, 2025, was discovered in the Mississippi River on Wednesday morning, July 23. This concluded a four-day search effort involving community members and law enforcement in the La Crosse, Wisconsin area.
Her body was located near Brownsville, Minnesota, at around 10:28 a.m. by the Houston County Sheriff’s Department. This site is over a dozen miles downstream from her last known location in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
A native of Hortonville, Wisconsin, Heinz was last seen on surveillance video at 3:22 a.m. on July 20, walking south on the 500 block of Front Street South in La Crosse. She had been at Bronco’s Bar at 105 Third Street South around 2:30 a.m. before starting her walk home. The footage showed her walking alone near the Mississippi River, approximately 0.75 miles from her apartment.
Heinz was in her second year at Viterbo University, studying mental health counseling. The private Catholic university, which enrolls just under 2,100 students, served as a central point for volunteers during the search.
La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron conveyed the department’s regret at the outcome. “This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search,” Kudron stated. He extended condolences to Heinz’s family and thanked the community for their support during the search.
The search involved several agencies and hundreds of community members. Efforts included air, land, and water searches conducted by friends, family, and police on Monday and Tuesday. The La Crosse Fire Department deployed boats on the Mississippi River, while officers used drones. Community members distributed flyers and reviewed security camera footage at the request of the police.
During the search, Heinz’s cellphone was found by her friends, as reported by her mother, Amber Heinz. The family contacted police when they could not reach her on Sunday morning. Amber Heinz described her daughter as having a big heart and being the eldest of three siblings.
Viterbo University held a prayer service on Monday afternoon, July 28, at San Damiano Chapel, open to people of all faiths. University President Dr. Rick Trietley acknowledged the significant impact of the loss, noting the difficulty of losing someone so young. A memorial service is planned for the fall in coordination with her family, when students return to campus.
The La Crosse Police Department continues to investigate the events surrounding Heinz’s death. Authorities await autopsy results to determine the cause of death. The investigation remains active as officials work to ascertain how Heinz ended up in the river, about 13 miles from her last known location.
The case showcases ongoing safety concerns in the La Crosse area, where the Mississippi River borders the downtown district. The university and local law enforcement requested residents to examine their security footage for any information that might aid the investigation.
The university community expressed deep grief over the loss. Viterbo officials expressed gratitude to the La Crosse Police Department for their efforts and to community members who assisted by searching, sharing information, offering prayers, and providing food and water during the search period.
Local authorities utilized social media and traditional media outlets to raise awareness about Heinz’s disappearance, asking for public assistance in locating her. The La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers provided options for anonymous reporting of any information regarding her whereabouts.
The investigation continues as authorities strive to provide answers to her family and the broader community that rallied in the search effort.
