By Blake Haas
NORMAL – Some new details are emerging as Police around the state are trying to locate a missing Illinois State University graduate student.
ISU Director of Clinical Education Cara Boester said she last hear from Jelani “J.J” Day last Monday after she texted him about his coursework and to set up a meeting for the following day.
Boester said she contacted authorities at Bloomington Police after Day failed to show up for multiple classes.
On Thursday, LaSalle County of Peru police found Day’s 2010 white Chrysler 300 hidden in a wooded area.
Speaking with WJBC’s Marc Strauss, ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff said camera footage picked up Day leaving the Bone Student Center parking lot on ISU’s campus early Tuesday morning.
“Right now, it is really is a mystery. We have no reason to believe that criminal behavior was involved. We just aren’t sure what happened. I’ve talked to his mother, his mother’s very concerned; his siblings are very concerned about him. There’s no indication of any mental health issues, so it’s really just kind of a mystery. And it’s unfortunate because he certainly sounded like he had a very bring promising future.”
As part of the investigation, Woodruff said Bloomington Police are working cellphone data to determine Day’s last movements.
“Bloomington Police certainly can ding the phone and have, and they’re still looking at cell phone data. So there’s some stuff they can do with that…It is certainly being looked at. I don’t think to this point it has been very helpful.”
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 is encouraged to contact Bloomington Police or Peru Police.
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com.
