Amid mass hysteria regarding the disappearance and relatively quick discovery of Gabby Petito’s body, many on social media have been pushing another ongoing missing person case to the forefront. Jelani Day, a 25-year-old from Bloomington, Illinois, was reported missing on Aug. 24, and his family is still seeking answers.
Jelani Day is still missing! Let's help bring him home safely. #FindJelaniDay
pic.twitter.com/BNXiUDatO8— Chile, I guess… (@Breyionna) September 15, 2021
"I shouldn't have to beg. I shouldn't have to plead. I shouldn't have to feel that there is a racial disparity, I shouldn't have to feel anything like that, I want these people that have these resources to realize this could happen to them," Carmen Bolden Day, Jelani's mom, told GMA, per ABC 7 Chicago.
Here is everything we know about the case so far:
He is a graduate student attending Illinois State University
Day was reported missing by family and a campus faculty member on Aug. 25 after his family made multiple attempts to reach him, and he was missing from classes for several days.
After graduating from Alabama A&M University, his mother said he enrolled in graduate school in order to achieve his goal of becoming a doctor. He was working to earn his master’s degree in speech pathology.
“I need him to come home so that he could continue his journey of becoming Dr. Jelani Day,” she shared with NBC Chicago.
He was also a part of Alabama A&M University's track team his freshman year, according to the school's website.
He was last seen on Aug. 24 on surveillance footage
Surveillance cameras at the Beyond/Hello dispensary in Bloomington, Illinois, recorded Day walking into the store at 9:12 a.m. local time. He was wearing a blue Detroit Lions hat, a black Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, white shorts and black shoes with white soles, NBC News reports.
He was seen earlier that morning at 7:20 a.m. on security cameras at ISU’s Bone Student Center. He was wearing a blue button-up collared shirt, black pants, a black belt and black dress shoes.
ISU president Terri Goss Kinzy released a statement to students urging them to come forward with any information regarding his disappearance at the time, according to Vidette Online.
"I am asking our Illinois State University community to think about Jelani, his family, and how we can come together to raise awareness and focus attention on the search to locate him," the message read.
Police discovered Jelani’s vehicle in Peru, Illinois
Bloomington police found what they believe to be Day’s white Chrysler 300 vehicle on Aug. 26 in a wooded area close to the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru, Illinois.
"Bloomington and Peru detectives are asking the assistance from Illinois Valley residents that may have seen the vehicle or Jelani or any else operating the vehicle in the area," police said.
Police discovered an unidentified body near the Illinois River
Investigators looking into Day’s disappearance discovered an unidentified body on Sept. 4 on the south bank of the Illinois River. No identification has been released as police continue to make attempts in determining who the person is, according to WGLT.
"We ask that people refrain from speculation, as the investigation remains ongoing and could take considerable time," police said.
His family has offered a hefty reward
As investigators continue looking into his disappearance, Day's family put up a $25,000 reward for his safe return, Fox 32 reported. A GoFundMe campaign has added an additional $16,255 to the total.
“Currently, BPD detectives are still sorting through tips, and are still actively investigating the case. Their investigation includes but is not limited to: (1) collecting and analyzing digital evidence, (2) collecting and analyzing physical evidence, (3) locating and interviewing witnesses or potential witnesses, (4) searching for leads or other information that can help with the investigation,” police said on the BPD Facebook page on Sept. 20.
Anyone with information is asked to reach out to BPD Detective Paul Jones at 309-434-2548 or at Pjones@cityblm.org.
