An Illinois family is pleading for answers after Jelani Day, an aspiring doctor, went missing last month.
According to the Bloomington Police Department, Day was last seen on Aug. 24 on surveillance footage. He entered a store called Beyond/Hello in Bloomington at around 9:12 a.m. Day was wearing a black graphic T-shirt, a blue Detroit Lions baseball hat, white shorts and black shoes.
The next day, the 25-year-old’s family reported him missing. They reportedly made several attempts to reach him and he had not shown up to his graduate classes at Illinois State University for a few days.
On Aug. 26, Day’s abandoned vehicle was found. Authorities with the Peru Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle in a wooded area near the Illinois Valley YMCA. Once officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Day’s white 2010 Chrysler 300.
While inspecting the car, police officers say they found the clothing the graduate student was wearing on the day he went missing. Authorities used K-9 dogs to search the area, but they were not able to locate Day. “Upon a search of law enforcement computerized files, it was determined the vehicle was a vehicle of interest in a missing person case out of Bloomington, Illinois. The vehicle was one belonging to Mr. Jelani J. Day, age 25 of Bloomington, Illinois,” read the report.
Carmen Bolden Day recently spoke to Newsy about her son’s disappearance. “We don’t have a lot of information,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’m getting the help that I need… I’m imploring, pleading and asking that the police still pay attention and look for my son.”
She also said that the last time she spoke to her son was on Aug. 23. Day told her that was heading to class and would call her back.
If you have any information regarding Day’s disappearance or whereabouts, please contact the Bloomington Police Department Dispatch at 309-820-8888 or contact Detective Paul Jones at 309-434-2548 and [email protected]. The REVOLT team is sending our thoughts and prayers to Day, his family and his friends. We hope that he is found safe.