PublishedFebruary 28, 2023 at 7:14 AM CST. WebA body found floating in the Illinois River in LaSalle County has been identified as that of missing Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day, according to the Bloomington Police LASALLE COUNTY (WIFR) - City of Bloomington Police confirm via Facebook that a male body found in the Illinois River on Saturday, Sept. 4 is of missing Illinois State University student Jelani Day. The young man's disappearance was strange, but not unusual. It was just tough," said Bloomington Police public information officer John Fermon, according to WGLT. More than likely it helped.. Police, family and friends continue to search for Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day after he went missing last week. The Oglesby Fire Department also helped with ground search efforts. Day was last seen on Aug. 24 on campus at Illinois State Day was last seen on Aug. 24 on campus at Illinois State University and at a marijuana dispensary in Bloomington, a small central Illinois city about 130 miles southwest of Chicago. In the post on the Justice for Jelani Day page, mom Carmen Bolden Day says she believes her son, described as an avid swimmer, was killed. His family and a professor reported him missing on Aug. 25 after he did not show up for class for several days. Our department is a great department, and sometimes if we need expertise or need some help, we'll say, Hey, we got an idea,' and sometimes it's good to discuss with another organization.. Otago reporter 11:45, Mar 02 2023. At this momentthere are more questions than answers surrounding Jelanis disappearance and death,and that is where we will focus our energy. Members of Days family, who live in Danville, have offered $25,000 for the mans return. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. His rebound downs Marian Catholic. Jesse Jackson. New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long- term', says NATO chief Stoltenberg, Finland begins building fence along Russia border. Anyone with information on Jelani Day's death is asked to call 815-433-2161. If you know anything about what happened to Jelani or had contact with Jelani in the days and weeks before his disappearance, please contact Bloomington Police Detective Paul Jones at (309)434-2548 or email him at pjones@cityblm.org.We have also hired JAB Professional Services to assist the police. The Oneida County Dive Team also assisted at the scene. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. A Tenino man who was found dead in the Toutle River has been identified, the Cowlitz County Coroners Office announced late Friday. Here's what we know. TOWN OF PLUM LAKE , Wis. (WSAW) - One person is dead after a snowmobile crash in Vilas County early Monday morning. A search and rescue team located the body of an overdue fisherman by an Otago river. Jelani Days identity was confirmed through DNA and dental records, the LaSalle County coroners office said. Federal Bureau of Investigation Jesse Jordan Huffman was on the lam from federal drug charges out of Illinois for over a month before locals found him dead from an apparent suicide aboard a missing boat in Crystal River. Fermon said the department had worked with several organizations, including ISP, Peru police and several search and rescue teams. Burlington Centrals Nicholas Gouriotis figures out the difference. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He didnt have any kind of pressures that would make him want to escape from life," she said. WebPolice on Monday afternoon identified a man found dead in the Arkansas River Sunday evening near downtown. Carmen Bolden Day says to work does not end with laying her son to rest. Teri Maddox. But he never made it. The drivers identity was not immediately disclosed in a Thursday press release. Jelani would never just disappear on his own. The Vilas County Sheriffs As of this moment, we do not know what happened to Jelani and we will not stop until we do, the family said. Bloomington woman charged with battery of BPD officer, Rivian employee alleges racial discrimination in federal lawsuit, Kindred: Former Bloomington star DMitri Dunson-Riggs giving back to game he loves. He was 97. The 25-year-old was reported missing on August 25 after he didn't show up to class in Bloomington, Ill., for several days. Illinois State Police K9 units searched the area, with assistance from the Peru and Utica fire departments' drone teams. Missing 26-year-old found dead in Brazos River by his father. She has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his location, and a GoFundMe fundraiser had generated more than $17,000 by Thursday afternoon. Bloomington Police Department, Illinois State University Police Department, Peru Police Department, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, LaSalle County Sheriffs and Coroners Office, LaSalle County States Attorneys Office, LaSalle Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Springfield Division and the Illinois State Police were all involved in the investigation. The family is devastated, but said now is the time they need answers. The LaSalle County Coroner announced that 63-year-old Donald Lee Renz was found Friday, April 9, at Allen Park in LaSalle County in the Illinois River. His body has been identified, but police are still investigating how and why he died. Days 2010 Chrysler 300 was located in Peru on Aug. 26; inside were the clothes he was last seen wearing. "His dad actually has cancer and Jelani is the bone marrow match for his dad, and he would never abandon his father like that," she said Wednesday when speaking with ABC7 Eyewitness News. Bloomington police Officer John Fermon during a press conference discusses the search forJelani Day, the Illinois State University student who went missing last month. Foul play is not suspected, and initial investigation indicates the death appears accidental, according to Peoria Police Department spokeswoman Amy Dotson. According to the Sheriffs office, a family member filed the initial report on Monday morning, saying the man was likely snowmobiling in the Tomahawk area on Friday. FOX 26 Gabby Hart shares the circumstances of his death and speaks with family. Bloomington Police responded, along with the Lasalle County Coroners Office, the Lasalle County Sheriffs Office, and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services. MUNSTER, Ind. "Weve given them DNA so they can identify the body," Day's mother Carmen Bolden Day told NBC Chicago this week. There's never a dull moment with Jelani. "We ask that you continue to pray for our family during what will be very hard days ahead. The cause of death is currently unknown, pending further investigation and toxicology testing. Antioch man facing drug, weapons charges after SWAT team raid. According to the Sheriffs office, a family member filed the initial report on Monday morning, saying the man was likely snowmobiling in the Tomahawk area on Friday. Watch now: Body found in Illinois River is Jelani Day, who went missing 4 weeks ago Saturday. According to data posted to Illinois State Polices website, the Division of Forensic Services had listed a backlog of 3,745 uncompleted biology tasks as of Aug. 31. The LaSalle County Sheriff's Office announced this afternoon a person of interest sought by Peru Police has been cleared by investigators and is not a suspect in the case. A 71-year-old man reported missing over the weekend was found dead in Somo Lake on Monday afternoon. His family approved the police releasing these images. An Atlanta woman was released from custody Friday on methamphetamine charges. Jun 21, 2021. Two or three other students had recently gone missing under nearly identical circumstances. Today, the LaSalle County coroner positively identified the body as Day using DNA testing and comparison. The search for Jelani "J.J." Day is officially over, as the coroner's office in LaSalle County, Ill., identified a body found in a river as Day's. Jelani Day (Family photo) After finding his car, authorities searched the area for Day with dogs and drones. Jesse Jackson, the Tribune said. Day's relatives had previously submitted DNA samples to aid the search. - An Illinois man was found dead on a street in northwest Indiana early Monday morning. Information regarding Jelani's disappearance can be emailed/texted to Beliveaups@yahoo.com 618-223-0044 (C) The family is offering a $25,000+ cash reward. A 25-year-old ISU graduate student remains missing. Investigators said they were able to identify Day's remains through forensic dental identification and DNA testing. A spokesperson for the FBI's Springfield office said they have been in communication with Bloomington police "for several weeks," but declined to comment further on their involvement. Days mother posted on a Facebook page that she didnt think he son committed suicide, the Tribune said. Police said the clothes he was last seen wearing in the surveillance video were found in his white Chrysler 300. Bloomington police Officer John Fermon during a press conference discusses the search forJelani Day, the Illinois State University student wh. Days cause of death is unknown and is under further investigation pending toxicology tests. The next day, Warmerdam, 37, was autopsied, but results werent released. 251 Bridge," was identified Thursday as Day, a 25-year-old reported missing in late August. During the search on Sept. 4, members of the Illinois Search and Rescue Council found a male body floating near the south bank of the Illinois River roughly 1/4 mile east of the bridge on Illinois Rt. In her post, Bolden Day thanked every single person who has thought about, prayed for, talked about and searched for Jelani. The play is the Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance's first in-person production in 18 months. Jelani Day, 25, was last seen Aug. 24. at the Illinois State University campus. MUNSTER, Ind. All Rights Reserved. So far, there have been no details released about the deceased. TOWN OF PLUM LAKE , Wis. (WSAW) - One person is dead after a snowmobile crash in Vilas County early Monday morning. Around 4:15 a.m., Munster police responded to 101-45th The body of a man found in the Fox River in Elgin Wednesday is being investigated by the Illinois State Police, authorities said. A crash reconstruction team from the Illinois State Police responded to assist. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The Illinois State Police will take over the investigation into what led a Wheaton man to be found dead over the weekend in the Illinois River near Starved Jordan Louis Gillilan, 28, was found dead about 10:15 a.m. by police officers and firefighters who went to 789 Riverfront Drive where a body had been located in the water. https://gofund.me/8ee08e46Thank you to every single person who has thought about, prayed for, talked about, and searched for Jelani. No further details were immediately available He was 97. Additional searches in the Peru area didnt find Day. Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Bloomington homes evacuated Saturday after car strikes house, gas line, Lawsuit: Normal police battered, arrested woman without cause, McLean County deputies find vehicle wanted in homicide investigation, 1 killed in crash on Interstate 55 in McLean County. LaSalle County Coroner William Wujek identified the man as Matthew His body was found floating in the Illinois River on Sept. 4. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. ", RELATED: Chicago police suspend investigation into disappearance of pregnant postal worker. Were not too proud to reach out for help, he said. Investigators were led to the Town of Wilson, where they found snowmobile tracks leading into open water on Somo Lake. PERU A body found in the Illinois River three weeks ago was identified Thursday as that ofJelani Day, the Illinois State University graduate student whose disappearance nearly a month ago triggered national attention and emotional pleas to those with information to come forward. He was excited about being able to help his dad. Day's mother, Carmen Bolden Day, said it was not like him to disappear without telling someone about his whereabouts. An expert river rescue team has been trying to preserve the boat in which the bodies of a man and dog were found near Wolverhampton. The Rev. The morning prior, Day was captured on surveillance video going into a dispensary in Bloomington. ", With A Spotlight On Gabby Petito, The Parents Of 2 Missing Black Men Call For Action. Bloomington Police Department said Day's body was found Sept. 4 floating near the south bank of the Illinois River but the LaSalle County Coroner only Thursday identified the remains after using forensic dental identification and DNA testing. Inside the car were the clothes Day had been wearing when he was last seen. After a night out in Chicago on the night before Halloween, 23-year-old Iaki Bascaran told his roommate he was heading home. Day, 25, had been living in Bloomington, where he aspired to be a doctor. Graduate studentJelani Day was last seen the morning of Aug. 24. We don't have to be family or blood related to help one another, said Leilia Young, 19, Bloomington. Based on what the Peru Police Department found in his vehicle, Illinois State Police conducted an extensive K9 search along with drone aerial searches by Peru Fire and Utica Fire and ground search teams from Peru, Utica and Oglesby. He also asked the public to make sure they're supportive and empathetic on social media, as Day's family is going through the grieving process. RELATED: Gabby Petito captured headlines when she went missing; do people of color get the same treatment? When the students body turned up in the river on Sept. 4, he was identified using dental records and DNA, according to cops. WebChristopher Jenkins, 21, was last seen leaving a Halloween party October 31, 2002 at the Lone Tree Bar and Grill in downtown Minneapolis. OTTAWA, Ill. A 39-year-old man was found dead Thursday night in the Illinois River after apparently driving a car into it. WebPolice on Monday afternoon identified a man found dead in the Arkansas River Sunday evening near downtown. After his remains were identified, Day's family said on Facebook, "There are no words to clearly communicate our devastation. According to the Sheriffs office, a family member filed the Web95.9 The Rivers Mexico Madness Rules; General Contest Rules; Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; YouTube; View Playlist History / national news. The Illinois State University graduate student had been missing since Aug. 24; the cause and circumstances of his death are being investigated. Here's why. ALBANY PARK A man found dead Friday in the North Branch of the Chicago River has been identified as an Albany Park father who Our hearts are broken. At 6:39 a.m., officers responded toLorentz Avenue just north of the McClugage Bridge on a report of a man whose bodyhad been found by a Peoria Park District Police officer on routine patrol. Monday morning video were found in his white Chrysler 300 was located in on! 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