MUS-2026-0479
Archive card
MUS-2026-0479
Suspicious death
- Incident
- 2021
- Indexed
- Oct 26, 2026, by MuseUnsolved
- Agency
- Peru Police Department
- Location
- Bloomington IL
Public record. Index entry.
Index entry. Case details compiled from public reporting; our researchers have not verified this file yet.
Summary
What happened, as the record shows.
Jelani Day, 25, an Illinois State University graduate student, was last seen in Bloomington, Illinois, on August 24, 2021. His car was found on August 26 in a wooded area in Peru, Illinois, with its license plates removed. His body was recovered from the Illinois River on September 4, 2021, and identified through dental records and DNA testing on September 23. On October 26, 2021, the LaSalle County coroner ruled the cause of death drowning, with the manner of death unknown and no evidence of pre-death injury. His mother disputes that account, and police reported in August 2025 that there are no active leads.
Timeline
What the record establishes.
- 2021
Day's family last speaks to him on August 23, 2021, and he is last seen in Bloomington on August 24, 2021.
- 2021
On August 26, 2021, his car is found in a wooded area in Peru, Illinois, with its license plates removed.
- 2021
On September 4, 2021, his body is recovered floating in the Illinois River near the south bank, about a quarter mile east of the Illinois Route 251 bridge.
- 2021
On September 23, 2021, the body is identified as Day through dental records and DNA testing.
- 2021
On October 26, 2021, the LaSalle County coroner rules the cause of death drowning, with the manner of death unknown, and finds no evidence of pre-death injury.
- 2025
In August 2025 the Peru Police Chief says the department agrees with the coroner's determination, that the manner of death is undetermined, and that there are no active leads.
Key people
The people in the file.
25, an Illinois State University graduate student. Last seen in Bloomington on August 24, 2021; found dead in the Illinois River, manner of death undetermined.
Mother of Jelani Day.
Contact details change over time; confirm the current assignee before publishing.
Investigating agency
Where tips go.
This case is with the Peru Police Department. If you know something, say something to them. For public-record leads for our researchers, use the tip line on any open file.
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