Jelani's disappearance and death are being investigated by LE as suspicious:
To my knowledge, it's uncontested that on 8/24/21, Jelani arrived on campus early morning in his professional dress where he had a pre-scheduled morning appointment with his advisor, an afternoon class, followed by a clinic with a patient.
For reasons still not explained, it appears that not long after he arrived on campus, Jelani impulsively and/or abruptly abandoned his scheduled plans at school and instead traveled to a legal, retail dispensary where he purchased marijuana sometime around 9:30 AM and was never seen again alive. His phone was also turned off or stopped tracking about this time.
By all accounts - Jelani never canceled his appointments or let anybody know he would not be attending classes, and it remains a mystery how his car came to be driven to Peru, IL, abandoned near the YMCA, and his body in the Illinois River.
It would be most unforgiving if investigators did not first question why Jelani abandoned his schedule on 8/24 without explanation. Although it's not illegal for an adult to voluntarily disappear, IMO, from both the trained and untrained perspective, Jelani's personal actions to leave campus that morning appear impulsive or reactionary, and not the result of a criminal act.
This is not to say that Jelani ending up in the Illinois River was not a homicidal act but before one can get anywhere near that conclusion, it follows that the first order is to understand what Jelani's mindset was on 8/24 when he went from a typical morning of arriving at campus, buying a coffee, to changing out of his professional attire to shorts, t-shirt, trainers, and driving to the weed store! Seriously, this is investigative missing persons 101 practice.
What did Jelani learn that morning that caused him to change his mind and his behavior?
Under the circumstances, as reported, it also follows that local investigators have called on the FBI Behavioral Unit to assist in developing a profile for Jelani to answer these very important questions.
Given that the family requested the FBI's involvement, I'm trying to understand why the family appears to NOT want these questions asked.
And I'm also trying to understand why nobody will answer the profiling questions as to what Jelani was doing for the last three years since graduating AAMU (2018) until he entered his Master's program at ISU (2021).
Did he join the military after graduating AAMU?
Was he working in a clinic?
Recovering from an illness, volunteering, traveling?
Most recently, JD's mom told Chicago Public Radio (CPR) host that Jelani was persistent at asking for and receiving money from both his mom and siblings -- especially when he wanted to travel but we also know one of his last messages to his mother was allegedly about confirming repayment arrangements for his Aunt.
By all accounts, JD was an unemployed, full-time grad student when he disappeared which even if his tuition was being covered by other means, leaves the question of how he was paying his rent, food, auto insurance, fuel, etc.
Was his mother supporting him? Did JD borrow money from a source known to retaliate in homicidal violence?
ISU confirms JD was a first-year grad student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders program but I'd also like confirmation of when Jelani actually enrolled at ISU. While some reports state he'd just entered the program, we know from his mother that she had been requesting copies of his grades from the last semester which she said he finally texted to her not long before he disappeared.
I think these are all reasonable questions of any missing person turned suspicious death. How can there be any developments in this case without such basic information? How can this investigation move forward with justice for Jelani and his loved ones until the elephant is cleared out of the room?
And yes, by all means, LE must be held accountable for any specific violations but until there are facts to support allegations of police involvement and a cover-up, it needs to stop. It's such a disservice to investigators and the medical examiner/coroner to only read how they failed Jelani and his family because one doesn't like the professional finding or results from a thorough investigation.
And I truly hope that Jelani's ISU program advisor that set off the alarm with campus security by requesting a welfare check on Jelani is receiving support. Awful allegations about her on various platforms for exercising her experience and training, under the circumstances. She must fear for her own safety.
MOO
ISU community comes together to remember Jelani Day
