First responders used boats and other means Tuesday to search the Mississippi River near downtown La Crosse as they look for missing Viterbo graduate student Eliotte Heinz.
Members of the La Crosse Fire Department used a rescue boat to search just downstream of the Cass Street Bridge. The search extended along the banks on both sides of the Mississippi River.
The La Crosse Police Department and La Crosse Dive Unit also were in the area.
Officials from the La Crosse police and fire departments said they could not answer questions from the Tribune about their involvement in the search or any leads in the investigation.
“We are not able to provide any details currently as this continues to be an open investigation,” said La Crosse Police Department Captain Avrie Schott. “Once we are able to share more information we will.”
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Heinz is a Viterbo University graduate student studying mental health counseling. Viterbo officials have reserved space on campus for family, police and volunteers to coordinate search efforts.
Many within and outside the La Crosse community have joined ongoing search parties to find her. Others from Heinz’s hometown of Hortonville, Wisconsin, drove three hours to join the search.
“I just hope Eliotte’s out there fighting her battle … and knows that there’s people out there searching,” said Brielle Handrich, who attended Hortonville High School with Heinz. “I came out here to do this because I know everyone in our community is just breaking down about this. We want to make sure that we’re here for her to support her.”
Heinz’s family expressed gratitude to the community for their continued efforts to find Heinz in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“On behalf of our family, thank you to everyone who has helped in the search for Eliotte. The outreach and support from the community and social media is unbelievable,” Danielle Faskell wrote. “Many of you are asking how you can help. We have had a huge turnout yesterday and today to search and canvass the La Crosse area.”
The family asked the community to continue spreading the word.
“At this point, the most help would be to continue to share on social media,” Faskell said. “For anyone in the surrounding La Crosse area, please review any home camera systems from Sunday at 2 a.m. – 6 a.m. Even the smallest detail may help. Information can be sent to the La Crosse Police Department.”
She was last seen in public at Bronco’s Bar in La Crosse around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Cameras later spotted Heinz at 3:22 a.m. walking southbound on the 500 Block of Front Street South.
Heinz is 5-foot-4-inches tall, 120 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and jean shorts.
As the family and volunteers continue to search, donations can be brought to Viterbo’s School of Nursing for those seeking to support the family and volunteers.
Monetary donations to directly help Shane and Amber Heinz, Eliotte’s parents, can be sent to the PayPal account attached to [email protected] or through Venmo to user @Danielle-Faskell.
“Shane, Amber, and the family are not doing any interviews or available for comments. This is a difficult time and we ask for respect of their privacy at this time,” Faskell wrote. “Again, we can’t begin to express our gratitude and to continue to keep us in your prayers.”
Volunteers, friends and family have searched different areas in La Crosse, plastering posters with information about Heinz across the city.
The La Crosse Police Department said it is following up on all leads and information about Heinz.
Information on Heinz or her whereabouts should be given to the La Crosse Police Department at 608-782-7575. Anonymous information can be provided to 608-784-TIPS or http://www.p3tips.com/459.
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