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

[Seattle1]

"the area with some clothes that were found last week," Bezner said. No mention of what the clothes are. Justice facebook is not an official source of any information.

See GMA video. Respectfully -- too much misinformation for this case and trying to keep this factual. OP quoting the brother without link.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I'll reply to my own post. I copied this post attached to the 2nd missing poster. It was then later posted with the note about his dress clothes, still confusing but sounding like they were in the car. I read this below to say, Jelani was in these clothes from the time he was in the dispensary, to the time the car was found, they are not looking for him to be in these clothes after 8/26/2021, 4:30 pm, the date and time the car was found. Why not those clothes after 4:30 pm? I guess we're not gonna know but don't I know if it's really material to the case. Sorry if no humor is allowed.

from Seve Day "These clothes were found inside his car and if anyone has seen him in this outfit of a Jimi Hendrix graphic tee, Detroit Lions baseball cap, white/silver shorts, and black shoes with white soles. The @bloomington_police is soliciting any leads from anyone seeing him in this outfit 8/24/2021 9:15AM-8/26/2021 4:20PM
Please note that my brother will not be wearing this outfit, his clothes were found inside his car

 

[Seattle1]

From the mouth of Mom as stated on GMA and CNN:
Begin 1:25 mark..... and the clothes were definitely his.

9/24/21 --Body finally identified as missing grad student Jelani Day

JD's mom states that clothes were located on the river bank and she identified the clothes as belonging to her son. However, there's no confirmation that JD was nude. The body was decomposed when recovered and JD's identity was confirmed by both dental records & DNA.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I've got no idea of why there is a conflict of information, I'm just repeating what the brother and Bloomington police. put out. No one has to believe him or any other source. His mother is not specifically saying the Hendrix shirt. It's possible that it's the same clothing, but not that shirt and hat, as I've also seen posted. When she first said no, they aren't his clothes, wouldn't they say something like they are the exact same clothes he was wearing at the dispensary? I think that now she has accepted that whatever clothes were found are his and before, she kind of automatically said they weren't when first asked. Either way, that shirt is accounted for and I'm going to buy a similar one.

 

[Seattle1]

New Details On Body Pulled From River In Peru

Sept 7, 2021

It was a man's body pulled out of the Illinois River in Peru this past Saturday,

La Salle County Coroner Rich Ploch says while an autopsy revealed the body to be that of a man, they may not find out who the deceased person is for weeks or months due to the condition of the body.

 

[rkendmar]

Jelani Day Press Conference: 10/16/2021

(start at 6:14)
Carmen Bolden Day: "He had no reason to be in Peru. Somebody took him there."

Do we know where Jelani's mother got this information? A tip? Video?

 

[SimplyCass]

The 351 bridge is a good possibility but I have 3 questions/comments:

1) Where would he park?
2) He would most likely be noticed (no shirt/socks/shoes) walking along the highway to the bridge (probably) in the middle of the day...but no reports of this, that we know of.
3) The IL/Mich Canal Trail provides quite a bit of privacy, especially on a Tuesday in the heat of August.
4) The flow in the canal is not strong like the river (I assume) but the body was in the water for 11 days and didn't have to travel far especially if Jelani entered the water near the western end of the trail.

Here's the thing: all the theories we're discussing are really quite speculative because we are missing large chunks of information. If we had a better idea of movements and times, maybe the theories could be better narrowed.

For instance, we're assuming that, if it was self-harm, he jumped from a bridge nearby, or that he parked the car near the YMCA and then walked to the river. His body being found on the riverbank would make this the simplest/most logical explanation, but it could be entirely wrong.

Lock 14 narrows the river/canal area down to a very small section. So I don't think he would have jumped from that bridge because i think it would have been stuck behind the lock area.

And I don't think there is another place on that side to jump from. But if he did enter the water to the west of Lock 14, I think he would have had to knock himself unconscious (or something). MOO/JMO as always.

I've got no idea of why there is a conflict of information, I'm just repeating what the brother and Bloomington police. put out. No one has to believe him or any other source.

^RSSM

The issue - which happens in all MP cases to an extent - is that journalists aren't trained investigators. They ask the questions and can fact check but they aren't the ones to make sure that it's 100% accurate on a timeline.

As an example, we're still not sure if the meeting was Tuesday or Wednesday, the answer which could really change perception/the narrative. If he skipped out on a meeting without notifying anyone, that is quite alarming. If he thought there was a meeting but then realized it was the next day (after buying something at the Starbucks), it could be an indicator of being stressed out.

 

[Seattle1]

No evidence whatsoever that JD abruptly leaving campus under his own power was a criminal act.

It's heartbreaking to see an Agenda (i.e., RPC/Jackson's) attach itself to a grieving mother for their own gain.

It's time to answer the FBI's behavioral unit's questions -- not falsely accuse authorities for JD's untimely passing. MOO

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Here's the thing: all the theories we're discussing are really quite speculative because we are missing large chunks of information. If we had a better idea of movements and times, maybe the theories could be better narrowed.

For instance, we're assuming that, if it was self-harm, he jumped from a bridge nearby, or that he parked the car near the YMCA and then walked to the river. His body being found on the riverbank would make this the simplest/most logical explanation, but it could be entirely wrong.

Lock 14 narrows the river/canal area down to a very small section. So I don't think he would have jumped from that bridge because i think it would have been stuck behind the lock area.

And I don't think there is another place on that side to jump from. But if he did enter the water to the west of Lock 14, I think he would have had to knock himself unconscious (or something). MOO/JMO as always.



^RSSM

The issue - which happens in all MP cases to an extent - is that journalists aren't trained investigators. They ask the questions and can fact check but they aren't the ones to make sure that it's 100% accurate on a timeline.

As an example, we're still not sure if the meeting was Tuesday or Wednesday, the answer which could really change perception/the narrative. If he skipped out on a meeting without notifying anyone, that is quite alarming. If he thought there was a meeting but then realized it was the next day (after buying something at the Starbucks), it could be an indicator of being stressed out.

In the video of CB, she states the meeting was for Tuesday morning, the text exchange on Monday evening, to arrange the meeting, is on her phone and in Jelani's phone records. I'm gonna guess CB showed the police the texts, and I think the family would know if she had misspoken. I'm gonna guess that CB, as a courtesy, let Jelani's mom see the text rather than make her wait for the phone records. She also sent a text to Jelani about the missed meeting, on Tuesday.
I don't know if you meant on the riverbank, as in not in the water. He was floating near the riverbank. I didn't make any guess as to where he went into the river, and it's my opinion that he took some unknown measures to not survive. Someone said they had divers checking the river, they may have been looking for something used for that, as an example, a number of people have filled backpacks with rocks then the body later came to the surface.

 

[JerseyGirl]

As mystery surrounds the death of Jelani Day, families of missing Black men plead for more accountability

 

[Seattle1]

Autopsy findings misrepresented in grad student Jelani Day’s death

Oct 15, 2021

This is part of AP’s effort to address widely shared misinformation, including work with outside companies and organizations to add factual context to misleading content that is circulating online. Learn more about fact-checking at AP.

CLAIM: Coroner’s report says missing graduate student Jelani Day was found with his organs missing, including his teeth, eyeballs and spleen. His jawbone was “sawed out.”

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The LaSalle County coroner who first examined Jelani Day’s recovered body said it was severely decomposed, but no body parts were missing. The coroner said the jaw was removed to assist with identification and that all parts of the body were returned to the family.

THE FACTS: The body of Day, who attended Illinois State University, was found in the Illinois River on Sept. 4 and positively identified on Sept. 23. Before the discovery of the body, Day had been last seen at the Illinois State campus on Aug. 24, according to reporting by The Associated Press.

Confusion around the initial autopsy report, a second pathologist’s review of Day’s body and details in a Chicago Sun-Times story led to false posts on social media stating that Day’s body parts were missing.

<modsnip - greater than 10%>

 

[Seattle1]

As mystery surrounds the death of Jelani Day, families of missing Black men plead for more accountability

From the link:

Day's mother has been critical of authorities' efforts since her son went missing on August 15 and now she's urging the FBI to get involved in the investigation of her son's death. Like her, several other families of missing Black men are pleading for more accountability.

"I need answers because the police departments that were involved in searching for my son and looking for my son and finding answers for my son failed me," Bolden Day added. "They failed my child."
________________________________________
ETA:

Jelani did NOT go missing on August 15!

I'm absolutely dumbfounded at the continued misinformation coming directly from press conferences with this case. IMO, it's almost as if it's on purpose or intentional.

Timeline:

8/24/21 - JD failed to show for scheduled classes/appointment
8/25/21 - JD reported missing to LE
8/26/21 - JD vehicle located - Peru, IL
9/4/21 - Body recovered from Illinois River - Peru, IL
9/7/21 - Coroner states an autopsy revealed body recovered 9/4 is a male but positive identification could take weeks or months due to the condition of the body.
9/23/21 - Body officially identified as JD by DNA and dental.

No cause or manner of death has been released by authorities.

 

[Seattle1]

No significant clues in newly released Jelani Day toxicology report

10/15/21

The [toxicology] report obtained by WGLT under the Freedom of Information Act shows caffeine, THC derivatives, and cotinine which is a derivative of nicotine often found in tobacco. The report said those are present in levels showing typical use and aren't toxicologically significant.

A forensic toxicologist used liver tissue from Day's body to do the analysis by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

A histology report looking at the microscopic structure of tissues is not yet out.
______________________

ETA:

Take note that the La Salle County Coroner, responsible for determining the cause and manner of death for this case, has not announced its finding, and also has not publicly released the final, official autopsy or toxicology reports for JD.

LaSalle County Coroner, Richard Ploch - lasalle_county

Illinois General Assembly - Illinois Compiled Statutes

 

[rainyday412]

I have been searching court records of various counties Jelani would have travelled through. On 8/20/21, he was ticketed in Livingston County for going 20-25 miles over the speed limit. Livingston is between Danville and Bloomington. August 20 was the Friday before he went missing.

Had his mom mentioned him visiting that prior weekend?

 

[Seattle1]

I have been searching court records of various counties Jelani would have travelled through. On 8/20/21, he was ticketed in Livingston County for going 20-25 miles over the speed limit. Livingston is between Danville and Bloomington. August 20 was the Friday before he went missing.

Had his mom mentioned him visiting that prior weekend?

This really makes my heart hurt. Especially since JD was recently given a 2nd chance on 5/19/21 for 3 prior violations where he'd already lost his privilege to drive a vehicle (i.e., suspended license).

We know from his mother that he frequently traveled home to Danville, and this is an excellent question to add to the profiling inquiry. IMO, I don't think it would be unusual for JD to visit on both 8/20 and 8/23.

 

[rainyday412]

I am going to take a guess that jelani was the family support specialist at New Directions Treatmemt Center. The job for that opening was posted in 2019, and then posted again in June 2021.p (see Facebook page). My guess is that this was his position. It was originally posted as working with families and childrem when I believe addiction is involved. On a side note, if this case were a homicide (IMO it’s likely suicide), he would have met some interesting characters in this job. I also find it interesting he was buying legal drugs at the dispensary after working with addicted parents…it seems a little odd to me.

I am a little confused why the family hasn’t mentioned all of his tickets, suspended license issues etc, especially since his last ticket was a few days before he disappeared. I think it’s important for knowing where he has been, and his frame of mind. And if he didn’t visit his family that prior weekend, who was he visiting?

also, wasn’t it just a phone call on 8/23, or was it actually a visit?

 

[SimplyCass]

I also find it interesting he was buying legal drugs at the dispensary after working with addicted parents…it seems a little odd to me.

I am a little confused why the family hasn’t mentioned all of his tickets, suspended license issues etc, especially since his last ticket was a few days before he disappeared. I think it’s important for knowing where he has been, and his frame of mind. And if he didn’t visit his family that prior weekend, who was he visiting?

also, wasn’t it just a phone call on 8/23, or was it actually a visit?

^RSSM

Not to downplay the risks too much, but cannabis isn't in the same class/risk/level of addiction as the type of drugs that require rehab. Is it really unusual for addiction counselors to use recreational drugs off the clock?

8/23 was definitely a phone call.

"He said 'Mama, I sent you the money to pay Aunt Ruby' and he told me he was going to class and that he will talk to me later," Bolden Day said.
"He called me, told me he put the money in my account and told me 'Mama, I just want to hear your voice," she added. (source)

 

[MimosaMornings]

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

Persistent at asking for and receiving money from his mother and his siblings?

How often was that?

And if he was always asking for money - did he pay it back?

If he consistently ran out of money and asked his family persistently - why bother to send his mom money to give to his aunt?

And how did he send his money to his mom?
JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Persistent at asking for and receiving money from his mother and his siblings?

How often was that?

And if he was always asking for money - did he pay it back?

If he consistently ran out of money and asked his family persistently - why bother to send his mom money to give to his aunt?

And how did he send his money to his mom?
JMO

It was cited up-thread that the money for Aunt Ruby wasn't a loan but his deposit for an upcoming Thanksgiving celebration.

The requests for money from parents and siblings did not sound like loans.

In the link below (interview with Illinois Public Radio), JD's mom referred to Jelani as her "bill collector child" because of his frequent calls per day. She also says he was her "richest broke child" that could stretch out funds for nice vacations. Mom recounts how persistent he was when he wanted money -- calling her (or his dad) every two hours until they would relent. And if he failed with his parents, he would then ask his siblings for money. The most recent example cited was requesting money to spend a month in Jamaica.

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

 

[BeckyF]

I am going to take a guess that jelani was the family support specialist at New Directions Treatmemt Center. The job for that opening was posted in 2019, and then posted again in June 2021.p (see Facebook page). My guess is that this was his position. It was originally posted as working with families and childrem when I believe addiction is involved. On a side note, if this case were a homicide (IMO it’s likely suicide), he would have met some interesting characters in this job. I also find it interesting he was buying legal drugs at the dispensary after working with addicted parents…it seems a little odd to me.

I am a little confused why the family hasn’t mentioned all of his tickets, suspended license issues etc, especially since his last ticket was a few days before he disappeared. I think it’s important for knowing where he has been, and his frame of mind. And if he didn’t visit his family that prior weekend, who was he visiting?

also, wasn’t it just a phone call on 8/23, or was it actually a visit?

Excuse me if I missed this but where did you get this information that he worked at New Directions Treatment center?