Body found in Illinois River identified as missing graduate student Jelani Day

LaSALLE COUNTY, Ill. (TCD) -- The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office officially identified the body found floating in the Illinois River as missing Illinois State graduate student Jelani Day.

The Coroner’s Office, LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, Peru Police Department, and Bloomington Police Department released a joint statement Thursday announcing the positive identification of the 25-year-old. According to the statement, officials used dental records and DNA testing in order to identify the body as Day’s. His cause of death remains unknown and a toxicology report is pending.

According to a statement by the Bloomington Police Department, Day’s family and an Illinois State University faculty member reported him missing August 25 after having last heard from him on August 23. He was determined to be missing under "unknown, suspicious circumstances."

The Bloomington Police Department’s statement said he was seen walking into a store called Beyond / Hello on August 24 at 9:12 a.m. wearing a black T-shirt with an image of Jimi Hendrix on it, white shorts, and black shoes. Police said this outfit was in his vehicle on August 26 and noted if found, Day would not be wearing those clothes.

The Peru Police Department announced Day’s car was discovered August 26 in a wooded area south of the Illinois Valley YMCA the day prior. According to a Bloomington Police Department press release, a body was found floating in the Illinois River on September 4 and said identification could take "several days or several weeks."

Day’s family said in a statement Thursday their "hearts are broken."

The statement said, "At this moment there are more questions than answers surrounding Jelani’s disappearance and death, and that is where we will focus our energy. As of this moment, we do not know what happened to Jelani and we will not stop until we do."

The family is offering a $25,000 cash reward in the investigation. Anyone with information is advised to contact their private investigator at Beliveaups@yahoo.com and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office at 815-433-2161.

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