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Coroner: Body Found In LaSalle County Is Jelani Day

Jelani Day, 25, was last seen Tuesday morning on a security camera at ISU’s Bone Student Center.
Jelani Day, 25, was last seen Tuesday morning on a security camera at ISU’s Bone Student Center.

Authorities said Thursday that the body found three weeks ago near Peru, Ill., was missing Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day of Bloomington.

Day, 25, had been missing since Aug. 24, after last being spotted that morning at ISU and at a store in Bloomington. His car was found two days later in Peru, about an hour north of Bloomington-Normal. The body was found Sept. 4 in the Illinois River floating just east of the Illinois 251 bridge, about a mile from where the car was found.

It took nearly three weeks for authorities to identify the body. The LaSalle County coroner did that Thursday, through forensic dental identification and DNA testing and comparison.

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 that drew national attention. The FBI is now listed among the agencies investigating the matter.

Bloomington Police are expected to release more information at a press conference later Thursday.

Anyone with any information about Day’s case should contact the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 433-2161.

ISU president Terri Goss Kinzy said she is deeply saddened by the news and details regarding how the campus community will come together to celebrate Jelani's life will be forthcoming.

"His family and friends are foremost in our thoughts during this difficult time and we extend our deepest condolences," said Kinzy. "Let us remember to take care of one another, check in on one another, and convey our feelings of love or loss to those close to us."

Goss Kinzy said she thanks everyone who helped raise awareness of the case.

"As members of the Redbird family, please remember that you are not alone. Students seeking support should not hesitate to reach out at any time to Student Counseling Services," said Kinzy.

This story will be updated.

Copyright 2021 WGLT. To see more, visit WGLT.

Ryan Denham started his career as a copy editor and later business and city government reporter at The Pantagraph in 2006. He later worked for WJBC radio in Bloomington. He now works in website development for Illinois State University and is a freelance reporter for WGLT.
WGLT Assistant News Director Charlie Schlenker grew up in Rock Island, Illinois and graduated from Augustana College. He has spent more than three decades in radio and has won numerous state and national awards for journalism. He lives in Normal with his family.
Eric Stock is WGLT (Bloomington-Normal public radio) News Director.