Found Deceased IL - Jelani 'JJ' Day, 25, ISU grad student, missed class, Bloomington, 23 Aug 2021 #2

[5W's]

I believe the image OP is referring to in the video interview is a stock image for illustration purposes only. In the same video, there's also a photo of a phone in the grass that does not have shattered glass, as well as an image of a journal which I doubt is Jelani's actual journal.

So in other words we are back at square one. Although with Jelani's phone though it wasn't found on the same day as he went missing. Its said that the glass had shattered I know when my phone was damaged I wasn't able to turn it on or off. IMO it doesn't seem like his phone was that damaged. I mean Walmart staff was able to find out it was his phone with mine one wouldn't have been able to. So that kind of makes me wonder that his phone wasn't that bad as it should've been being dropped from a moving van. My charging capacity wasn't even working. Something seems off about the condition of his phone to me.

 

[SimplyCass]

That's odd that the DNA in the shorts and shoes wasn't Jelani's even though they were his items. So someone wore them obviously before placing them at the riverbank where they were found. I'd have to look back and see the video from the dispensary to see if that was what he was wearing that morning. See these kinds of cases can have so many twists and turns and are made perplexing. We have a couple of questions here why would someone other than Jelani place them there? That is just plain hair raising on the spine, so creepy. How can LE for sure say that the phone was tossed from a moving car? If it was wouldn't there be more damage, I could be wrong though. It just looks like the glass was just a bit splintered. I've had phones drop accidently while standing in one spot not even moving and they were more damaged that his phone.

I'm not actually sure if a full report would use the wording "no DNA of <this person>." I was a juror on a criminal trial in which the prosecutor presented DNA evidence from a jacket and from a car gear shift to show that the defendant was there at the scene. They phrased it in terms of probabilities, saying there was more DNA from the defendant than other foreign DNA, for instance. Never at any point did the prosecutor say the DNA on jacket = it is the defendant's. But they also had other evidence not DNA related, like a note in the jacket that had his handwriting.

The above is very much MOO (my opinion only).

The more I think about this case, the more confused and rattled I get. There are far too many gaps to build any kind of logical timeline.

 

[5W's]

I'm not actually sure if a full report would use the wording "no DNA of <this person>." I was a juror on a criminal trial in which the prosecutor presented DNA evidence from a jacket and from a car gear shift to show that the defendant was there at the scene. They phrased it in terms of probabilities, saying there was more DNA from the defendant than other foreign DNA, for instance. Never at any point did the prosecutor say the DNA on jacket = it is the defendant's. But they also had other evidence not DNA related, like a note in the jacket that had his handwriting.

The above is very much MOO (my opinion only).

The more I think about this case, the more confused and rattled I get. There are far too many gaps to build any kind of logical timeline.

I agree with your point also, they wouldn't say that in a full report "No DNA." So we are left with the question was anyone unknown's DNA uncovered in his items. There could be one reason I can think of why police would redact that part out is because they don't want the unknown person to know they have this information and CBD tells everyone. If that's the case I don't think LE liked that. IMO.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

So in other words we are back at square one. Although with Jelani's phone though it wasn't found on the same day as he went missing. Its said that the glass had shattered I know when my phone was damaged I wasn't able to turn it on or off. IMO it doesn't seem like his phone was that damaged. I mean Walmart staff was able to find out it was his phone with mine one wouldn't have been able to. So that kind of makes me wonder that his phone wasn't that bad as it should've been being dropped from a moving van. My charging capacity wasn't even working. Something seems off about the condition of his phone to me.

Even if the phone was damaged, the serial number of an iPhone 12 would have been on the SIM card tray. That's likely how it was traced back to him.

 

[Silver Spring]

Here is the full interview with CBD on NBC Chicago Docuseries "Scene of the Crime: What Happened to Jelani Day". It can be watched on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, or the Justice for Jelani Day Facebook page. It's mentioned for the first time that Jelani walked into the Fairchild Hall building which houses the Speech Pathology department. CBD says security tape shows him being approached by two people, he talks to them, and they walk in together. A few minutes later, Jelani walks out and sits on a bench and looks at his phone.

Since they have the DNA report from his clothing, I wonder if the DNA results have come back from swabs taken from his vehicle and what they showed? I feel like this "new" information only gives me more questions than answers.

Watch: Second Season of NBC Chicago Docuseries ‘Scene of the Crime’ – NBC Chicago

 

[5W's]

Even if the phone was damaged, the serial number of an iPhone 12 would have been on the SIM card tray. That's likely how it was traced back to him.

Yes, that's true about the SIM (if it was in there) card and the numbered tray. But my question is if the SIM tray number was what staff used to identify whose phone it was is that public information? Would Walmart staff be able to find that out assuming the numbers aren't private information & anyone can access it? So really its difficult to say what happened there, plus I would assume since it was out on the highway until it was found elements would further damage it. Such as dust, perhaps rain, so charging it could also be an issue. Of course SIM cards hold a lot of information. We don't know what kind of condition it was in but I would assume it had some damage not just to the glass. I thought it was stated that Walmart staff were able to charge the phone.

 

[branmuffin]

That's odd that the DNA in the shorts and shoes wasn't Jelani's even though they were his items. So someone wore them obviously before placing them at the riverbank where they were found. I'd have to look back and see the video from the dispensary to see if that was what he was wearing that morning. See these kinds of cases can have so many twists and turns and are made perplexing. We have a couple of questions here why would someone other than Jelani place them there? That is just plain hair raising on the spine, so creepy. How can LE for sure say that the phone was tossed from a moving car? If it was wouldn't there be more damage, I could be wrong though. It just looks like the glass was just a bit splintered. I've had phones drop accidently while standing in one spot not even moving and they were more damaged that his phone.

You can find someone's DNA in or on another person's clothing without the mystery person wearing those clothes. That's why LE want a rape victim's clothing even if they scrubbed their body clean after an attack. DNA from semen can be found on the victim's underwear.

My granddaughter who lived with us until recently wore lace up shoes or pull-ons like Blundstone, but she wore my slip on mules to make a quick trip to the car so her DNA was in my shoes even though they were about 2 sizes too small for her.

As for the phone, a phone has a bigger chance of surviving a toss onto a gravel shoulder or a ditch than dropping it onto a paved road or concrete driveway. My daughter ran over her phone and it still turned on although damage on the screen made it unusable.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Yes, that's true about the SIM (if it was in there) card and the numbered tray. But my question is if the SIM tray number was what staff used to identify whose phone it was is that public information? Would Walmart staff be able to find that out assuming the numbers aren't private information & anyone can access it? So really its difficult to say what happened there, plus I would assume since it was out on the highway until it was found elements would further damage it. Such as dust, perhaps rain, so charging it could also be an issue. Of course SIM cards hold a lot of information. We don't know what kind of condition it was in but I would assume it had some damage not just to the glass. I thought it was stated that Walmart staff were able to charge the phone.

I'm not sure why you think Walmart staff did any investigation of the phone. Is there a source for this info? If not, my guess is they returned it to the service provider (Verizon, etc.) who had access to the owner info. In this news release it states the person who found it and turned it in was contacted days later by the Bloomington PD, who subsequently were in contact with JJ's mother.
Jelani Day's phone has been found

 

[5W's]

I'm not sure why you think Walmart staff did any investigation of the phone. Is there a source for this info? If not, my guess is they returned it to the service provider (Verizon, etc.) who had access to the owner info. In this news release it states the person who found it and turned it in was contacted days later by the Bloomington PD, who subsequently were in contact with JJ's mother.
Jelani Day's phone has been found

I'm not sure the sequence which took place after the person turned in the phone to Walmart. I am only speculating. I don't think Walmart would obviously investigate. But, in order to find out whose phone it was Walmart staff had to find out somehow and then report it to police upon finding out whose phone it was. Afterall Walmart paid the person who turned it in if I recall. So if the payment happened then its possible Walmart staff were he ones who alerted police (I am assuming this is the sequence.) All moo.

 

[5W's]

You can find someone's DNA in or on another person's clothing without the mystery person wearing those clothes. That's why LE want a rape victim's clothing even if they scrubbed their body clean after an attack. DNA from semen can be found on the victim's underwear.

My granddaughter who lived with us until recently wore lace up shoes or pull-ons like Blundstone, but she wore my slip on mules to make a quick trip to the car so her DNA was in my shoes even though they were about 2 sizes too small for her.

As for the phone, a phone has a bigger chance of surviving a toss onto a gravel shoulder or a ditch than dropping it onto a paved road or concrete driveway. My daughter ran over her phone and it still turned on although damage on the screen made it unusable.

About the phone it was apperently dropped from a moving car and it was apparently days afterwards it was found so in a damaged screen it would be vulnerable to further damage. A moving vehicle's speed has to also be taken into account. As for DNA anything could've happened. Thankfully your loved one is safe but we don't know what happened to Jelani so the two cannot be compared IMO. Plus if someone else's DNA was found in Jelani's items there could be other possibly disturbing factors why his wasn't found in it. Like the items could've been washed or water from the river, splashed on them, rain,

 

[branmuffin]

About the phone it was apperently dropped from a moving car and it was apparently days afterwards it was found so in a damaged screen it would be vulnerable to further damage. A moving vehicle's speed has to also be taken into account. As for DNA anything could've happened. Thankfully your loved one is safe but we don't know what happened to Jelani so the two cannot be compared IMO. Plus if someone else's DNA was found in Jelani's items there could be other possibly disturbing factors why his wasn't found in it. Like the items could've been washed or water from the river, splashed on them, rain,

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[5W's]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

It was a reply to someone who posted. They responded so they do know what the conversation was about, just for your info.

 

[Silver Spring]

I'm not sure the sequence which took place after the person turned in the phone to Walmart. I am only speculating. I don't think Walmart would obviously investigate. But, in order to find out whose phone it was Walmart staff had to find out somehow and then report it to police upon finding out whose phone it was. Afterall Walmart paid the person who turned it in if I recall. So if the payment happened then its possible Walmart staff were he ones who alerted police (I am assuming this is the sequence.) All moo.

Walmart staff has nothing to do with buying or selling the cell phones, other than hosting the kiosk in their stores. They are managed remotely by ecoATM and kiosks are cleared once a week by a contracted service provider. The phones are then sent to their process center in San Diego and held for a minimum of 30 days. If it turns up stolen it goes to law enforcement or the rightful owner. Here are links to FAQs.

Law Enforcement FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions

 

[5W's]

Walmart staff has nothing to do with buying or selling the cell phones, other than hosting the kiosk in their stores. They are managed remotely by ecoATM and kiosks are cleared once a week by a contracted service provider. The phones are then sent to their process center in San Diego and held for a minimum of 30 days. If it turns up stolen it goes to law enforcement or the rightful owner. Here are links to FAQs.

Law Enforcement FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions

Other posters have said that the person who turned it in was paid so I am going based on what others have posted in the past, there are numerous references that Websleuthers have posted about individuals being paid upon turning in found phones to Walmart. Thanks for the FAQ's. Those others who posted hopefully they will glean some information from your post. However, I did think there was some systematic way that LE would get a phone that was stolen. Other posters in the past have said that the individual who found Jelani's phone was paid I believe $80 for turning it in to the kiosk at Walmart. I hope that clears up how this was started from the beginning and my responses to those posts as I think that something nefarious happened to him while the other posters do not believe so. My responses were to those. Forgive me if its not the company that operates the kiosks that paid the said individual. But apparently according to other posters the individual was paid.

 

[Silver Spring]

Does this really change anything?

The law only requires coroners to notify the FBI; it doesn’t require the FBI to get involved. Only a handful of lawmakers voted against it, worried the law would overburden the FBI.

Pritzker signs Jelani Day Bill into law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor Pritzker signed into law on Monday a bill that was directly inspired by the disappearance and death of Jelani Day. The bill requires Illinois coroners to n…

www.wcia.com

 

[Seattle1]

Does this really change anything?

Pritzker signs Jelani Day Bill into law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor Pritzker signed into law on Monday a bill that was directly inspired by the disappearance and death of Jelani Day. The bill requires Illinois coroners to n…

www.wcia.com

Just as false information was perpetuated about JD's autopsy report, I believe the same is true here about CBD allegedly continuing to search for 19 days (until her son was POSITIVELY identified).

MSM accepted that JD was no longer a missing person and coverage slowed down pending positive identification via DNA/dental records due to the condition of the remains.

IMO, CBD was in denial that the body recovered was her son, and not that she was not informed by Investigators/ME advised that the black male recovered from the river near where the car was abandoned was most likely JD.

I recall when the bill was introduced they did not want NamUS to be notified and/or have the ability to edit/amend missing person data.

I'm not sure the significance of the bill other than an added burden to local LE that even after notifying FBI of the discovery of remains, local LE/ME will still be responsible for identifying the missing person and investigating the case unless evidence of foul play where facts will determine if federal jurisdiction required. MOO

Frequently Asked Questions

View answers to frequently asked questions about the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

namus.nij.ojp.gov

ETA: Illinois Senate bill 3932.

 

[Seattle1]

Jelani Day bill signed into law, would give FBI cases where remains can't be ID'd

Illinois Senate bill 3932, also known as the Jelani Day bill, is now a law.

abc7chicago.com

The new law requires a coroner or medical examiner to notify the FBI when human remains are not identified within 72 hours of discovery.

The LaSalle County coroner ruled Day's death a drowning, but his family believes someone killed him.

Day's mom reacted to the law on Facebook saying "Even in BAD times...God is still GOOD! THE JELANI DAY BILL IS NOW A LAW! BUT I yet have so much work to do!"

 

[Seattle1]

‘Jelani Day Bill’ signed into law

Jelani Day's mother speaks out on new law named after her late son.

www.hoiabc.com

5/17/22

SPRINGFIELD (Heart of Illinois ABC) - The mother of Jelani Day, the late Illinois State University graduate student, is pleased the bill named for her son is now the law in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed legislation requiring local law enforcement notify the FBI within 72 hours after the discovery of a body.

Day went missing in the Twin-Cities in late August of last year. His body was found in the Illinois River in LaSalle County September 4, but wasn’t positively identified for almost three weeks after that.

Authorities said they believe Day drowned, but Carmen Bolden Day, thinks foul play was involved in her son’s death.

[..]

She also believes authorities, including Bloomington Police, have been less-than-aggressive in investigating the case because Day was Black.

She said, “having the officials get involved and providing the exact same assistance, resources and opportunities to people that look like Jelani is imperative!”

The Jelani Day Bill was introduced by Chicago Democratic State Sen. Elgie Sims, Jr., who is an ISU graduate.

 

[Wallendo]

The State of Illinois has no control over the FBI. Local LE may notify the FBI, but they will have no obligation to do anything. It sounds good, but really accomplishes very little.

 

[Seattle1]

Illinois House committee approves Jelani Day bill

A bill honoring the life of Jelani Day is one step closer to becoming law in Illinois.

www.wifr.com

3/22/22

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) - A bill honoring the life of Jelani Day is one step closer to becoming law in Illinois.

Day was a graduate student at Illinois State University who went missing in August. Despite efforts to find him alive, authorities found his body floating in the Illinois River on September 4.

His family criticized local investigators for not working quickly to have the FBI involved. The calls for change were heard around the country as family members of other missing people of color found the FBI was called in much later than cases with missing white people.

Senate Bill 3932 requires county coroners or medical examiners in Illinois to notify the FBI when human remains are not identified within 72 hours. It received unanimous support in the Senate six months after Day was first reported missing.

“There are databases and whatnot available to try and streamline some of these processes,” said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “But often, the FBI doesn’t know that these remains have been found or that they are unidentified. So, this is based on alleviating that process.”

This change to the state’s Missing Persons Identification Act passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee Tuesday night.