A 22-year-old graduate student who disappeared after leaving a bar early Sunday morning has been found dead in the Mississippi River, according to the La Crosse Police Department.

       Eliotte Heinz, a graduate student at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin, was last seen on Sunday at approximately 3:22 a.m. near the Mississippi River, police said. According to her missing person poster, Heinz was allegedly seen leaving Bronco's Bar in La Crosse at approximately 2:30 a.m.

       Heinz's body was found in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota, on Wednesday, police said.

       "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," police said in a statement on Wednesday.

       Police said they are continuing to investigate and "will await the results of an autopsy for an official cause of death."

       Earlier Tuesday, police had said the search for Heinz remained active, with "numerous resources" being utilized as they continue to receive tips.

       Members of the community gathered to search for Heinz and hand out copies of her missing person poster.

       Heinz's family was had asked for residents in the area to review home security camera footage from early Sunday morning between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., saying "even the smallest detail could make a difference."

       "The outpouring of supporting in the search efforts for Eliotte has been overwhelming, and we are deeply grateful for the kindness, prayers and encouragement from the community and beyond," the family said in a statement shared on the university's social media on Tuesday.

       The family has also said the "most important thing you can do is continue sharing Eliotte's information on social media."

       Brielle Handrich, who went to high school with Heinz, told La Crosse ABC affiliate WXOW she hoped Heinz was "out there fighting her battle" and "knows that there's people out there searching."