Search Continues For ISU Student, Police Examine Body In River

BLOOMINGTON, IL — A 25-year-old graduate student at Illinois State University is still missing nearly two weeks after he was reported missing, Bloomington police said. Now, officials are examining a body found in the Illinois River to see if it belongs to Jelani Day.

Day was last seen at a Bloomington cannabis dispensary on Aug. 24. Two days later, police found his car abandoned in the woods near a Peru YMCA. According to police, the white 2010 Chrysler 300 contained the clothing Day wore the day before he was reported missing.

Police and members of the LaSalle County Sheriff's Office told reporters they are looking through digital data as well physical evidence to find leads on Day's whereabouts.

While no other information has been released about the body from the Illinois River, Officer John Fermon told the Pantagraph it could be several weeks before officials make an identification.

Day's family, who are from Danville, have offered a $25,000 reward for the 25-year-old's safe return. An online fundraiser has reached over $9,000 to supplement the reward.

Day's mother, Carmen Bolden Day, spoke at an Illinois State University event in Normal last week to garner support for the search and ask students and staff to pray for her son's return.

"I need Jelani to survive," Carmen Bolden Day said at the Friday event. "My life will not be nowhere the same if I can't have Jelani here with me to survive. I need you to help me find my son."