EMOTIONAL BROADCAST: ABC’s David Muir shares ‘URGENT’ update as viewers say they’re ‘SENDING PRAYERS’

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

The 51-year-old anchor appeared on ABC World News Tonight to reveal a search is ongoing for Heinz, who disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning. During the broadcast, Muir stated, “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 noted her family has been “helping authorities search,” before continuing, “Her mother pleading for anyone with information to please come forward.”

A segment from the news program was posted 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.”

Viewers flocked to the comments to express their hopes that Heinz is located safely. “I hope that she’s OK. I hope her family is okay ~ that’s got to be terrible,” one person commented.

Another remarked, “Sending prayers,” while a third person repeated, “Praying for her safe return.”

Someone else contributed, “Hopefully she will be found safe and sound.”

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

Relatives have revealed Heinz was heading back to her home when the security camera footage was captured.

Heinz had been at Bronco’s Bar in the city’s downtown district and left at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Police officers have conducted searches along the Mississippi River banks behind Front Street. A representative for La Crosse PD stated detectives have received numerous tips concerning Heinz’s location over the past 48 hours.

Her mother, Amber Heinz, addressed the missing graduate student during a news 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 stated, continuing, “We love you, we miss you, and we’re doing everything we can to get you back to us.”

Amber then urged anyone with a security camera to review their recordings. “If you have seen anything, even if it’s small – anything at all – please call the La Crosse Police Department,” she stated.

The mother added, “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 addressed the news conference and stated, “Everyone is just really messed up right now. We don’t know where Eliotte is. We need to find her.”

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