Coroner: Body Found In LaSalle County Is Jelani Day
9/24/21
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Bloomington Police public information officer John Fermon said during a virtual news conference the cause of Day’s death is still unknown. He did not say whether police had any persons of interest in the case.
“We can all agree that it was very suspicious, just unlike him,” Fermon said. “It was one of those things, was it foul play or not?”
Fermon said the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t determined whether it is a homicide investigation at this point. The sheriff’s office has not responded to a request for comment.
Day's case has received extensive coverage in central Illinois, and recently went national when
Day's mother protested that her son's death was not receiving enough resources compared to another missing person case that drew national attention.
The FBI is now listed among the agencies investigating the matter. Fermon said he didn’t have a specific date when the FBI was brought in, but he indicated many people in the community pushed for more information on the case.
“Jelani was such a great person and had so many great friends that people were reaching out wanting to help,” he said.
Fermon did not discuss evidence in the case, but he confirmed police received a tip that brought them to the Illinois River where his body was found.
“Imagine searching an entire city is difficult, but we got some information to give us that second search,” he said, adding he hopes Thursday's identification can provide some closure for the family.
“I couldn’t put myself in their shoes. It was just tough,” Fermon said. “I’d want to know the answers, good or bad, to start the grieving process, so I think it’s good in that aspect.”
Fermon said he understands the Day family’s frustration that the case didn’t get much attention at first.
“A lot of our high-risk missing persons just here in the city don’t get the attention (they) deserve either,” Fermon said. “I’m happy this got out there. We’ll take the criticism.”
Fermon could not address the reasons why it took nearly three weeks for a positive identification, but he indicated there is a backlog at the Illinois State Police crime lab. The State Police Division of Forensic Services has declined to comment, citing its policy on open cases.