Eliotte Heinz, a 22-year-old graduate student from Viterbo University, went missing early Sunday morning in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The La Crosse Police Department reported that she was last seen walking near the waterfront just before 3:30 a.m., having earlier been with friends at Bronco’s Bar in the city’s downtown area. The bar closed at 2:30 a.m., and the short walk to where she was last seen took about 2 minutes. Despite efforts by her family, friends, and police to locate her, the search has remained unsuccessful so far.
Authorities are actively searching for the graduate student, described as 5-foot-4 with blonde hair and blue eyes, last seen wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The Heinz family is urgently appealing for the public’s help in locating her. In a statement on Facebook, Viterbo University shared a message from the family, highlighting the overwhelming support they have received, and urging people to continue sharing Eliotte’s information on social media. They also pleaded with residents of La Crosse to review any home security camera footage from the area between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Sunday, emphasizing that even the smallest details could be crucial.
Eliotte’s mother, Amber, explained that she was studying in Viterbo’s mental health counseling program and had been in regular contact. However, the sudden unavailability on Sunday raised immediate concerns. Amber mentioned that her daughter was simply trying to go home when she disappeared. The family is currently focusing on supporting the police in their efforts while maintaining a positive outlook, expressing hope for a favorable outcome in which Eliotte returns safely. They are also keeping their family’s focus on her and the search, encouraging others to keep her in their prayers.
This situation is being closely observed due to its similarity to previous tragic incidents, such as the 2019 incident in which University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was kidnapped and killed by Nathaniel Rowland, who had posed as a rideshare driver. While the Heinz family is uncertain if their daughter was attempting to call an Uber or Lyft at the time of her disappearance, they are seeking clarity and additional support for this ongoing search. Authorities have confirmed there are no updates on the case, and they continue to investigate and follow up on all leads.