Authorities are looking for a 22-year-old graduate student who vanished early Sunday morning in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The La Crosse Police Department reported that Elliot Heinz was last seen walking near the waterfront shortly before 3:30 a.m. She had been out with a friend at a nearby bar just under an hour before her disappearance.
Despite numerous efforts from family, friends, and law enforcement, there has been no success in locating her, according to the officials.
Heinz is described as 5-foot-4, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and jersey shorts.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Viterbo University conveyed gratitude from the Heinz family, who are actively working to spread information about her case. They expressed appreciation for the community’s overwhelming support, prayers, and encouragement, and asked people to check their home security cameras for any footage from the early hours of Sunday.
“Even the smallest details can make a difference,” the family stated. They urged anyone with information to reach out to the La Crosse Police Department and requested continued prayers for Elliot and their family.
The family has also been accepting donations at Viterbo University School of Nursing, although it remains unclear if Heinz is a nursing student.
Authorities are actively pursuing all leads regarding her whereabouts.
This incident echoes memories of Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old student from the University of South Carolina who was tragically murdered in 2019 after mistakenly getting into a car thinking it was her ride-share. That case raises the awareness of safety concerns surrounding late-night outings.
If you have any information about Elliot Heinz’s whereabouts, please contact the police’s non-emergency line at 608-782-7575. You can also anonymously reach the local crime stoppers at 608-784-TIPS or through their online platform.
