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

[branmuffin]

Very true @5W's. Unfortunately, that was not what SB3932 proposed.

Instead of legislation to serve all the missing, including the underreported and their families, the bill wanted [Illinois] legislation that essentially removed NamUS as a program partner to facilitate prompt identification of human remains, but without answering why.

NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and managed through a contract with RTI International.

IMO, if a party takes issue with a partner that accepted factual information provided by LE that a missing person was located and/or identified (because the party did not want the missing yet located or wasn't emotionally ready to accept their loved one deceased), then I believe the motivation to suggest a longterm partner organization removed from existing legislation, at the expense of all the missing, should be questioned.

Just the same, if a party wants to promote a brand new or existing organization in Illinois to duplicate or replace services being provided by NamUS, dedicated especially to people of color, that is their right, but not at the expense of others being served by NamUS. MOO

There is already a website devoted to shining the spotlight on black and minority missing persons called Black and Missing. Here's the link:

https://blackandmissinginc.com/statistics/

I think it's true that many minorities are underreported. Unfortunately, that sometimes has to do with the fact that some minorities live marginalized lives and fall through the cracks. The reality, though, is that many people of all races live marginalized lives perhaps because they grew up in poverty and engaged in high risk lifestyles like prostitution and drug addiction.

In Canada, instead of black people who are underreported it's indigenous people, mostly women, who weren't reported missing or if they were, they already had records for prostitution or other charges and were treated callously by LE. It could be a defeatist attitude by family members who feel their voices are never heard and think, based on experience, that a drug addicted daughter is going to be low on the list of priorities.

There is a section of highway in British Columbia, about 700 km which is called the Highway of Tears because of the number of women found brutally murdered since 1970, with a disproportionate amount of indigenous women who were already estranged from family.

Highway of Tears - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's a fact that here on WS, almost every UID I have followed or been interested in were never reported missing by family members or even people who they were close to. If family did report them missing they were told the missing person was an adult free to disappear. The police did not take their concerns seriously and refused to follow up or dragged their feet entering them as bona fide missing persons.

So my personal opinion is, if you are someone like Gabby Petito who was plastered all over the media people take notice. Many people who go missing are dismissed subconsciously when the only image available is a mug shot. I think Gabby having such a high profile had less to do with her being white, and more to do with the fact that she appeared to have a stable homelife, a long term boyfriend, good relations with family with healthy goals and no criminal offenses in her life. Basically the girl next door. Whereas the reality is, she stayed with an abusive individual who basically programmed her to be submissive and defer to his outbursts. And we all know the way that ended.

 

[Silver Spring]

I hope it's okay to share this from the official Justice For Jelani Day Facebook page. CBD is saying his license plates were in the trunk. Did police ever confirm the plates were actually missing or just removed?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1461899884313451

 

[branmuffin]

I hope it's okay to share this from the official Justice For Jelani Day Facebook page. CBD is saying his license plates were in the trunk. Did police ever confirm the plates were actually missing or just removed?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1461899884313451

I feel sorry for his mother because she is haunted by her beliefs that he died through foul play. I used to work for a large police organization in their central headquarters. There were many police cars; unmarked and marked cars, motorcycles, boats, etc. They have buildings to store stuff seasonally and also to work on the vehicles. If they retain vehicles that are suspected to be involved in a criminal investigation they wouldn't keep them in the same area. There are police cars in the garage where she is as well as lockers. They aren't evidence lockers.

What evidence is she referring to when she mentions seeing a suitcase in the rear driver's side passenger seat?

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I hope it's okay to share this from the official Justice For Jelani Day Facebook page. CBD is saying his license plates were in the trunk. Did police ever confirm the plates were actually missing or just removed?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1461899884313451

As to there being room to store the car indoors, vehicle evidence processing areas can't be used for storage.

Cars probably move in and out of there every week.
It might be kept there if it needed to be sealed/resealed or if the evidence on the exterior needed to be preserved, as in a criminal case.
There is room and it's empty that day, but vehicles are processed for search warrants and forensics there. All four doors are opened, floor mats taken out, seats taken out, etc.

The first photos shown of the car were inside, and it was processed for evidence. In the released emails, we saw that it was swabbed for DNA, dusted for prints, etc., there was a warrant to search it and the items were inventoried. The car is not evidence needing to be preserved and secured. There was never any evidence of a crime, the car doesn't need to be stored indoors after processing. As she said in the video, they are releasing the car. She is convinced that Jelani wasn't alone in the car but there is no evidence to support that.
Plenty of talk about the plates already, perhaps Jelani put them in the trunk, thinking it would delay the car being identified. The "suitcase" was brought up somewhere else, but I don't think we know exactly what it is, but it doesn't prove someone else was in the car.

I think getting the car back or even just seeing it, is really emotional for her, it's like another statement of finality.

 

[Seattle1]

As to there being room to store the car indoors, vehicle evidence processing areas can't be used for storage.

Cars probably move in and out of there every week.
It might be kept there if it needed to be sealed/resealed or if the evidence on the exterior needed to be preserved, as in a criminal case.
There is room and it's empty that day, but vehicles are processed for search warrants and forensics there. All four doors are opened, floor mats taken out, seats taken out, etc.

The first photos shown of the car were inside, and it was processed for evidence. In the released emails, we saw that it was swabbed for DNA, dusted for prints, etc., there was a warrant to search it and the items were inventoried. The car is not evidence needing to be preserved and secured. There was never any evidence of a crime, the car doesn't need to be stored indoors after processing. As she said in the video, they are releasing the car. She is convinced that Jelani wasn't alone in the car but there is no evidence to support that.
Plenty of talk about the plates already, perhaps Jelani put them in the trunk, thinking it would delay the car being identified. The "suitcase" was brought up somewhere else, but I don't think we know exactly what it is, but it doesn't prove someone else was in the car.

I think getting the car back or even just seeing it, is really emotional for her, it's like another statement of finality.

I agree -- the finality is so heartbreaking.

I also think the vehicle was long ago processed by LE and anything of forensic value was collected and retained. CBD indicates that the vehicle was in storage 3 weeks ago but today it was not. IMO, the vehicle was likely moved for release to next of kin as it's now been one year. MOO

 

[Seattle1]

I agree -- the finality is so heartbreaking.

I also think the vehicle was long ago processed by LE and anything of forensic value was collected and retained. CBD indicates that the vehicle was in storage 3 weeks ago but today it was not. IMO, the vehicle was likely moved for release to next of kin as it's now been one year. MOO

Appending to my earlier message for clarity ...

The area that CBD refers to as the secure storage area appears to be the processing area and IMO, is not likely the same as Peru police department evidence lockers/storage. In the video, there are only police vehicles inside the garage.

Also, thinking back, I believe the vehicle was impounded after it was found abandoned in Peru and possibly for no evidence of mandatory vehicle insurance -- and not because of evidence of foul play.

I find it very sad that CBD often presents alone during her videos and wish somebody would accompany her and at least be available to drive her around during such difficult times. Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary -- RIP Jelani.

MOO

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Police Inventory Search Of A Vehicle In Illinois | The Nuggets...

Is it legally for police to tow, search and inventory your car? Maybe or maybe not. The exact tow policy of the department has to be analyzed and the officer's

illinoiscaselaw.com

 

[Seattle1]

Celebration of life, foundation launch planned on anniversary of Danville man's death

A celebration of life for Jelani Day will be held later this month at Illinois State University in conjunction with the launch of a foundation to support families of missing

www.news-gazette.com

8/16/22

A celebration of life for the Danville resident, whose body was found last summer in the Illinois River, will be held later this month at Illinois State University in conjunction with the launch of a foundation to support families of missing minorities.

[..]

The celebration of life and the launch of the Jelani Day Foundation will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at Illinois State University’s Bone Center.

On social media, Mr. Day’s mother asked people to donate or buy tickets to the gala, which will celebrate his life and legacy.

“This is going to be a great, great thing,” she said. “On this particular day, Aug. 27, we will be announcing the launch of his foundation. I’m so excited to be able to create something in his memory that will help others to not experience the things we’ve had to endure and experience.”

She said she “wanted to be the vessel to keep his name out there.”

“Until we find out what happened to him, we are going to make sure you remember him,” she said.

 

[Seattle1]

Jelani Day celebration of life set for Aug. 27 at ISU - Illinois Newsroom

A memorial service is being planned later this month for late Illinois State University student Jelani Day, one year after his death. Aug. 24, 2021, marked the last time the graduate student was seen alive at Illinois State University. Day’s body was recovered in the Illinois River in early...

illinoisnewsroom.org

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Thursday marks one year since Illinois graduate student Jelani Day was reported missing. His body was found floating in the Illinois River on September 4, 2021. Day's car was found in the woods in Peru, Illinois. His wallet, some clothes and an ID lanyard were all found individually at separate locations in the same general area of the car. A coroner concluded that Day's cause of death was drowning.

But his mother Carmen Bolden Day said it remains unclear what led up to Day's drowning.

"I am nowhere closer to finding that out today than I was 365 days ago," Day told CNN's Omar Jimenez.

Day said she believes police have mishandled critical evidence in the investigation. She recently asked to view her son's car and discovered shoes, money, papers, a suitcase and other items that she said should have been tagged and bagged.

"I have no confidence in them (the police), none," Day said. "It is very painful."

Families are living a 'nightmare' as they plead for help finding missing loved ones

When David Robinson's 24-year-old son went missing in June of 2021, he uprooted his life in South Carolina and moved to Buckeye, Arizona to lead the search.

www.cnn.com

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Well, in my opinion, Sen. Sims is not giving an accurate description of the Jelani Day Law, which merely requires that the FBI be notified if human remains, upon discovery, have not been identified within 72 hours.

Frustration lingers as Jelani Day's family and supporters gather for celebration of life on 1-year anniversary - IPM Newsroom

A celebration of life for late Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day on Saturday night resembled a spiritual revival, a rally, a memorial and a party with music, food and dancing. The event at ISU’s Bone Student Center was to remember Jelani Day, a 25-year-old from Danville who...

illinoisnewsroom.org

State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago:
"You are now required by Illinois law to reach out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and get assistance from our federal government,” Sims said.

 

[Seattle1]

Well, in my opinion, Sen. Sims is not giving an accurate description of the Jelani Day Law, which merely requires that the FBI be notified if human remains, upon discovery, have not been identified within 72 hours.

Frustration lingers as Jelani Day's family and supporters gather for celebration of life on 1-year anniversary - IPM Newsroom

A celebration of life for late Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day on Saturday night resembled a spiritual revival, a rally, a memorial and a party with music, food and dancing. The event at ISU’s Bone Student Center was to remember Jelani Day, a 25-year-old from Danville who...

illinoisnewsroom.org

State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago:
"You are now required by Illinois law to reach out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and get assistance from our federal government,” Sims said.

I'm so happy that Jelani's family, classmates, and friends had an opportunity to celebrate his life a year later when their hearts are not so heavy.

However, I too think it unfortunate to promote these false messages with no basis whatsoever.

For example, while it's true that Jelani was not legally identified for 19 days, we know that CBD was the first person to know that the body recovered from the Illinois River days after he disappeared was most likely her son. Besides being a black man, there were too many other coincidences here for the body to be anybody but Jelani.

I understand that mom didn't want to acknowledge that her son was gone but it's false to put out this message. I'm also sorry that the Jelani Day Foundation that sponsored the celebration of Jelani's life (at $50/head plus contributions) is not showing any signs that the foundation will support raising awareness for the very critical issue of suicide of black men:

Suicide Rates Have Increased Dramatically Among African Americans

‘Getting Help’ Seen As Weakness

www.uh.edu

--Feb 2022

The news is horrifying – a list that seems to keep growing of high-profile African Americans believed to have died by suicide in the last few weeks:

• Mayor of Hyattsville, Maryland Kevin Ward, 44
• Former Miss USA and attorney Cheslie Kryst, 30
• Walking Dead Star Moses Moseley, 31
• Ian Alexander, Jr., 26, son of Regina King

[..]

“Anything that is perceived as mental health-related is taboo in the Black community. To further complicate things, ‘getting help’ is seen as a weakness so folks press on even when they are struggling. Doing so is part of a cultural legacy of survival in the face of brutal circumstances,” said Walker.

[..]

Suicide deaths occur across the lifespan and have increased for Black youth, but the highest rate of death is among Black Americans aged 25-34 years of age.” said Walker, who believes one way to stem the trend is to continue bringing these conversations into the public arena.

“Suicide is a preventable public health problem and it’s time we get proactive in addressing it,” said Walker.

 

[BeckyF]

Coroner request to review Jelani Day case was met with pushback, documents reveal

Nearly one year after Jelani Day’s body was identified, documents reveal disagreement stirred among coroners and medical examiners when a law was passed in his name.

pantagraph.com

It seems from this article that Illinois coroners have concerns about the Jelani Day bill.

 

[Seattle1]

Coroner request to review Jelani Day case was met with pushback, documents reveal

Nearly one year after Jelani Day’s body was identified, documents reveal disagreement stirred among coroners and medical examiners when a law was passed in his name.

pantagraph.com

It seems from this article that Illinois coroners have concerns about the Jelani Day bill.

Thanks for this link. IMO, the professionals corroborated what we've been saying since the bill was introduced. However, if rapid DNA equipment and funding will be appropriated as a result of the discussion then that will be a great service that can be attributed to Jelani's memory. Otherwise, positive identification of Jelani's body in a legal sense was delayed because his dental records were fractured (i.e., he did not have one family dentist but visited different dental clinics throughout IL and AL). MOO

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I know most of the readers following this thread remember that the DNA match and the dental ID were received by Coroner Ploch at nearly the same time. Seattle1 has just explained the dental delay.
The dental wouldn't have even been necessary if not for the condition of the body, the result of being in the water but exposed to the surface, in hot weather. Tissue samples had degraded DNA so a piece of bone had to be removed and sent to the lab.
A lab then had to process the bone to extract a sample, and that sample was then tested for DNA. Every step contributed to what is perceived by critics, as an excessively long time to identify JD.
Nothing in the JD bill will expedite the process, it will just make families' unreasonable expectations worse. They (labs, ME's, pathologists) will never measure up to what is seen on TV shows.

 

[Silver Spring]

I have a question for anyone that knows how to read toxicology reports. I was able to view part of Jelani's report and under ELISA it shows Benzodiazepines as 400 ng/g. Is that a significant amount indicating use or it naturally occurring in the body during decomposition? It was reported that only caffeine, THC, and nicotine were found.

No significant clues in newly released Jelani Day toxicology report

The toxicology report from the body of deceased ISU student Jelani Day shows marijuana, caffeine, and nicotine use. Levels showed typical use and aren't toxicologically significant.

www.wglt.org

 

[Seattle1]

I have a question for anyone that knows how to read toxicology reports. I was able to view part of Jelani's report and under ELISA it shows Benzodiazepines as 400 ng/g. Is that a significant amount indicating use or it naturally occurring in the body during decomposition? It was reported that only caffeine, THC, and nicotine were found.

No significant clues in newly released Jelani Day toxicology report

The toxicology report from the body of deceased ISU student Jelani Day shows marijuana, caffeine, and nicotine use. Levels showed typical use and aren't toxicologically significant.

www.wglt.org

Interesting. The first thing that came to mind was respiratory depression [versus strong swimmer]. I'm not familiar with any incidents of benzo detection without prior ingestion.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317551374_Simultaneous_Method_for_the_Separation_and_Identification_of_Certain_Benzodiazepine_Drugs_in_Pharmaceutical_Formulations_by_Liquid_Chromatography-Tandem_Mass_Spectrometry_LC-MS_MS

Detection of benzodiazepines in decomposing rabbit tissues and certain necrophagic dipteran species of forensic importance

The determination of benzodiazepines (carbamazepine and clobazam) in rabbit carcass tissues and larvae of three Calliphorid flies is described. After feeding the rabbits with lethal and toxic doses, samples of larvae and carcass tissues were studied. ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Benzodiazepines as 400 ng/g. Is that a significant amount indicating use or it naturally occurring in the body during decomposition?

Anything under that amount would not have even been detected, assuming all benzodiazepines have a similar positive cutoff. I'm not qualified to give an educated opinion, so in my MHOO, as it states in the autopsy, nothing was toxicologically significant.

​

​

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC6748181
by Z Qriouet · 2019 · Cited by 25 — Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a class of psychoactive drugs, ... LFIA and found that the observed positive cutoff for oxazepam was 400 ng/ml.

 

[5W's]

I have a question for anyone that knows how to read toxicology reports. I was able to view part of Jelani's report and under ELISA it shows Benzodiazepines as 400 ng/g. Is that a significant amount indicating use or it naturally occurring in the body during decomposition? It was reported that only caffeine, THC, and nicotine were found.

No significant clues in newly released Jelani Day toxicology report

The toxicology report from the body of deceased ISU student Jelani Day shows marijuana, caffeine, and nicotine use. Levels showed typical use and aren't toxicologically significant.

www.wglt.org

Thanks for reminding us about the 400 ng/g of Benzodiazepines in the toxicology reports. I vaguely remember that but it raises a question in my mind before Jelani went into the water how much did he have in his system? It was a while before he was found so the toxicology report wouldn't have specified how much he may have had in his system upon entering the water. I didn't clue into this at the time but now I wonder. I wonder if the Coroner had a moment of oversight on this. Oversights happen sometimes, not intentionally, but accidentally. Is it possible the Coroner overlooked this because it couldn't be determined how much was in Jelani's system originally? Say for example its a negligable amount then it would be very difficult to determine how much was originally there. Then as Seattle1 mentioned "respiratory depression [versus strong swimmer]."QUOTE I wonder how this effects the overall picture of what happened. Since its a drug that is ingested it couldn't be in the system naturally occurring.

 

[mewmew]

Thanks for reminding us about the 400 ng/g of Benzodiazepines in the toxicology reports. I vaguely remember that but it raises a question in my mind before Jelani went into the water how much did he have in his system? It was a while before he was found so the toxicology report wouldn't have specified how much he may have had in his system upon entering the water. I didn't clue into this at the time but now I wonder. I wonder if the Coroner had a moment of oversight on this. Oversights happen sometimes, not intentionally, but accidentally. Is it possible the Coroner overlooked this because it couldn't be determined how much was in Jelani's system originally? Say for example its a negligable amount then it would be very difficult to determine how much was originally there. Then as Seattle1 mentioned "respiratory depression [versus strong swimmer]."QUOTE I wonder how this effects the overall picture of what happened. Since its a drug that is ingested it couldn't be in the system naturally occurring.

I don’t know much about how toxicology works, but I am very interested at him having any amount of benzodiazepines in his system. If he took them regularly he may have been used to their effects, but I know for myself, I was prescribed them in the past and they made me very woozy, I would’ve had a very hard time swimming with them in my system and that was with a low, doctor prescribed amount. My point is that even though it’s within the normal range, it may have still affected him.

JMO

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Anything under that amount would not have even been detected, assuming all benzodiazepines have a similar positive cutoff. I'm not qualified to give an educated opinion, so in my MHOO, as it states in the autopsy, nothing was toxicologically significant.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC6748181
by Z Qriouet · 2019 · Cited by 25 — Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a class of psychoactive drugs, ... LFIA and found that the observed positive cutoff for oxazepam was 400 ng/ml.

Oxazepam is one of the less potent benzodiazepines. Some, such as lorazepam (Ativan) and alprazolam (Xanax), are more than 10x more potent. An ELISA test typically wouldn't be able to discriminate between them. Whereas the mass spec method (LC/MS/MS) cited by @Seattle1 would have indicated which one it was. But apparently the detected amount was considered an insignificant amount for following up with more specific tests.

Was there a specific link to the autopsy report? The linked article by the OP about this didn't have details.