LA CROSSE, WI — A profound sense of grief has enveloped the La Crosse community following the tragic discovery of 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz’s body in the Mississippi River on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The Viterbo University graduate student, originally from Hortonville, Wisconsin, was reported missing on Sunday, July 20, sparking an intense, community-wide search that united family, friends, and strangers in a shared hope for her safe return. That hope was shattered with the recovery of her body, leaving the La Crosse and Hortonville communities grappling with sorrow and unanswered questions.
Eliotte, a 22-year-old woman studying mental health counseling at Viterbo University, was last seen in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, at approximately 3:22 a.m., walking southbound on the 500 block of Front Street South near the Mississippi River. She had been at Bronco’s Bar in downtown La Crosse earlier that night, leaving around 2:30 a.m. to walk home, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile. Surveillance footage captured her near the waterfront, but she never reached her apartment. When her family was unable to contact her on Sunday morning, alarm bells rang, and a massive search effort was launched.
The response from the La Crosse community was immediate and overwhelming. Volunteers, including friends, family, and residents from as far as Hortonville—three hours away—joined local law enforcement, the La Crosse Fire Department, and the La Crosse Dive Unit in combing the riverbanks, streets, and surrounding areas. Missing person posters were distributed across the city, and social media amplified pleas for information. Viterbo University served as a hub for coordinating search efforts, with the School of Nursing opening its doors to volunteers and accepting donations of food and supplies. A prayer vigil was held Monday at the San Damiano Chapel, where loved ones gathered to share hope and support.
Eliotte’s mother, Amber Heinz, described her daughter as “beautiful inside and out” with “the biggest heart and unending kindness for everyone.” In a statement shared through Viterbo University, the family expressed gratitude for the community’s support, urging residents to review security footage from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday and share Eliotte’s information widely. “Even the smallest detail could make a difference,” they said. Her friends found her cellphone during the search, adding to the mystery of her disappearance.
On Wednesday morning, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a fisherman who spotted a body in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota, approximately 15 miles downstream from La Crosse. At 10:28 a.m., authorities confirmed the body was Eliotte’s. The La Crosse Police Department, in coordination with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and medical examiners, recovered her body, and an autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death.
La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron expressed the department’s devastation in a statement: “This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search. Our thoughts are with Eliotte’s family, friends, and all those who knew Eliotte. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from so many within the La Crosse community, the state of Wisconsin, and nationally to locate Eliotte.” The investigation remains active, with no official confirmation of foul play at this time, though authorities continue to follow leads and await autopsy results.
Eliotte was remembered as a vibrant, empathetic soul whose presence touched many lives. Friends described her as someone who radiated kindness, always ready with a smile or a listening ear. Her passion for mental health counseling reflected her deep commitment to helping others, a calling that resonated with those who knew her. “She had a way of making everyone feel valued,” said Brielle Handrich, a high school friend, in an interview with WXOW. The outpouring of support—from search volunteers to social media shares—underscored the profound impact Eliotte had on her community.
The tragedy has renewed attention to safety concerns near the Mississippi River, an area with a history of alcohol-related drownings. Since 2006, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s “River Watch” program, now coordinated by Sigma Tau Gamma, has patrolled the waterfront on weekend nights to prevent such incidents. Despite these efforts, Eliotte’s death has left the community searching for answers and ways to heal.
Viterbo University issued a statement mourning the loss: “We join the Heinz family, the La Crosse community, and all who knew and loved Eliotte in mourning her tragic passing. We are heartbroken by this loss and extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.” Grief counseling services are being offered to students and community members, and a memorial vigil is being planned to honor Eliotte’s memory and provide a space for collective mourning.
The La Crosse and Hortonville communities, forever linked by this tragedy, have shown remarkable unity in their response. From the tireless search efforts to the heartfelt tributes, Eliotte’s life and legacy continue to inspire love and compassion. Her family’s statement captured the depth of their loss: “We are heartbroken beyond words. Eliotte was loved deeply and will be missed every single day. Thank you to everyone who helped us search, who prayed, who shared her photo. Your love carried us through.”
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on celebrating Eliotte’s life and supporting those she left behind. Her light, though extinguished too soon, will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or mental health, help is available. Contact a local support center or the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You are not alone.
