The truth is finally out—and it’s heartbreaking. The cause of death for the Wisconsin grad student who vanished without a trace while walking home from a bar has now been revealed, bringing painful clarity to a mystery that gripped the community. One moment she was laughing with friends, the next she was gone, leaving behind nothing but fear and unanswered questions. Now, with the cause of death confirmed, the story feels even heavier.

A Wisconsin grad student who vanished while walking home from a bar died by accidental drowning in the Mississippi River, the local medical examiner revealed in a report Wednesday.

Eliotte Heinz, 22 — who sparked a frantic, four-day search when she mysteriously disappeared after a night out with friends in La Crosse on July 20 — had alcohol in her system but no sign of drugs, officials said, according to People Magazine.

There was “no gross evidence of trauma,” according to the La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Eliotte Heinz
3 Eliotte Heinz, 22, died by accidental drowning, according to the medical examiner.La Crosse Police Department
Eliotte Heinz
3 A toxicology report revealed Eliotte Heinz had alcohol in her system but no drugs.Facebook / Eliotte Heinz

Heinz, who was studying mental health counseling at Viterbo College, was last seen on camera not far from the waterfront at 3:20 a.m. — roughly 50 minutes after leaving Bronco’s Bar in the city’s downtown area.

Her disappearance baffled police along with her heartbroken parents, who later said the were desperately trying “trying to stay positive.”

Heinz
3 Heinz’s disappearance sparked a four-day search in July.Viterbo University

Her body was later found in the river near Brownsville, Minnesota with no apparent sign of foul play.

The tragic student had a blood-alcohol level of 0.193, more than double the state’s legal driving limit, WEAU reported.

“Eliotte’s walk home is finished. Unfortunately, our family’s walk down this new hard path is just beginning,” her  family said in July. “We love you, Eliotte.”

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