Missing ISU grad student’s car found in LaSalle County

Posted on August 27, 2021
Bloomington and Peru Police are asking anyone who may have seen Day, or anyone else driving his car to contact authorities. (Photo courtesy: Bloomington Police)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – The search for a missing Illinois State University graduate student moved to north central Illinois where authorities said they found the missing man’s car.

Police in Peru said they found the Jelani J.J. Day’s vehicle concealed in a wooded area south of the Illinois Valley YMCA. The discovery late Thursday afternoon led to an extensive search using Illinois State Police dogs and drone aerial searches, but authorities did not find Day.

He is 25 and lives in Bloomington, but his family is from Danville, according to police. Day’s relatives said they last spoke with him Monday evening, and he has not shown up in class for several days.

Bloomington and Peru Police are asking anyone who may have seen Day, or anyone else driving his car to contact authorities.

Day’s car is a white, four-door 2010 Chrysler 300 (Illinois registration #CH74067). It’s possible there were no license plates on the vehicle, according to police.

Day is a black male, 25 years old, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 180 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes, and some facial hair.

Anyone with information can call Peru Police Detective Commander Dennis Hocking 223-2151 extension 2804 or Detective Brad Jones 223-2151 extension 2816.

Detective Jones can also be reached at 309-434-2548. His email address is [email protected]

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