The last known sighting of 22-year-old graduate student Eliotte Heinz came from surveillance footage showing her walking alone near the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, just moments before she vanished without a trace early Sunday morning.
According to Daily Mail, the footage captured by cameras outside the Courtyard Marriott Hotel shows Heinz wearing a white t-shirt, cut-off denim shorts, and white sneakers as she walked along Front Street South at 3:22 AM. Her cellphone was later discovered by friends near the hotel after multiple failed attempts to contact her.
The psychology doctorate student at Viterbo College was last seen leaving Bronco's Bar around 2:30 AM when the establishment closed for the night. The 50-minute gap between her departure from the bar and final sighting on camera remains unexplained, as the two locations are less than half a mile apart.
Search Efforts Intensify Along Mississippi River
Local law enforcement has deployed drones and dive units to search the shorelines near where Heinz was last captured on video. The search has expanded to include areas around Houska Park across the river as authorities race against time.
The La Crosse Police Department issued an urgent appeal Wednesday for downtown businesses to review any security footage from early Sunday morning. They specifically requested checks of properties and cameras between 2 AM and 9 AM on July 20th.
Multiple agencies are now involved in the search as Heinz's family maintains hope for her safe return. Her mother Amber described her as responsible and said it was completely out of character for her daughter to disappear without contact.
Family Pleads for Public's Help
During an emotional press conference, Heinz's brother Brett expressed how the disappearance has devastated their family. He emphasized their desperation to locate his sister as the search entered its fourth day.
The family has been overwhelmed by community support, with volunteers helping canvas the area and distribute flyers from a command center at Viterbo College's campus. They continue urging anyone with information to come forward.
Local businesses like Bronco's Bar have cooperated fully with investigators, providing all available surveillance footage from the night Heinz went missing. A spokesperson confirmed they are assisting authorities, however possible.
Critical Time Window Remains Mystery
Questions persist about Heinz's movements in the crucial timeframe between leaving the bar and appearing on hotel cameras. Her intended 30-minute walk home was never completed.
Investigators have not confirmed if Heinz attempted to use any ride-share services that morning. Both Uber and Lyft have yet to respond to inquiries about potential rides requested in the area.
The discovery of her cellphone near the Marriott has provided investigators with a vital piece of evidence, though details about its condition or contents have not been released.
Investigation Continues as Community Rallies
Anyone with information about Eliotte Heinz's whereabouts is urged to contact La Crosse Police at 608-782-7575. She is described as 5'4", 120 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS or online. The family maintains hope while asking the public to share Heinz's information on social media.
As search efforts enter day four, the community has united behind the Heinz family, demonstrating the profound impact this disappearance has had on La Crosse residents. Local authorities vow to continue the investigation until Eliotte is found.
