ABC’s David Muir shares ‘urgent’ update as viewers say they’re ‘sending prayers’

David Muir appeared on ABC World News Tonight to provide an update on the disappearance of grad student Eliotte Heinz, who vanished in the early hours of Sunday morning

David Muir has shared an update in the case of missing grad student Eliotte Heinz.

The 51-year-old anchor appeared on ABC World News Tonight to announce a search is underway for Heinz, who vanished in the early hours of Sunday morning. Appearing on the show, Muir said, “Tonight here, the urgent search for a missing grad student in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Police say Eliote Heinz was last seen on surveillance Sunday, walking near the Mississippi River.”

Muir said her family has been “helping authorities search,” before adding, “Her mother pleading for anyone with information to please come forward.” A clip from the news broadcast was shared on Instagram.

The video was captioned, “An urgent search is underway for graduate student Eliotte Heinz, who was last seen on surveillance video on Sunday walking along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. @DavidMuirABC reports.”

David Muir shared the news on ABC(Image: ABC)

Viewers took to the comments to share their hopes that Heinz is found safe. “I hope that she’s OK. I hope her family is okay ~ that’s got to be terrible,” one person wrote.

Another said, “Sending prayers,” while a third person echoed, “Praying for her safe return.” Someone else added, “Hopefully she will be found safe and sound.”

Heinz, 22, disappeared after leaving a bar in the early hours of Sunday morning. She was last seen on CCTV footage walking near the Mississippi River in the 500 block of Front Street South at around 3.22 a.m.

Family members have said Heinz was on her way back to her apartment when the surveillance camera footage was taken. Heinz had been at Bronco’s Bar in the city’s downtown area and left at around 2.30 a.m.

The search is continuing(Image: ABC)

Law enforcement officers have searched along the banks of the Mississippi River behind Front Street. A spokesperson for La Crosse PD said investigators have received a number of tips regarding Heinz’s whereabouts over the last 48 hours.

Her mom, Amber Heinz, spoke about the missing grad student during a press conference. “She needs to be back home with us. That’s where she was trying to go and we need her to be able to complete that,” she said, adding, “We love you, we miss you, and we’re doing everything we can to get you back to us.”

Amber then asked anyone with a security camera to go back through their footage. “If you have seen anything, even if it’s small – anything at all – please call the La Crosse Police Department,” she said.

The mom continued, “If you have Ring cameras and you think that you might have captured an image of Eliotte, please call them, let them take a look at your footage. Even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, it might be something that’s a really big deal for her.”

Heinz’s brother also spoke during the press conference and said, “Everyone is just really messed up right now. We don’t know where Eliotte is. We need to find her.”

Heinz has been described as five-foot-four, weighing around 120lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and denim shorts.