SPRINGFIELD — Driven by the tragic death of Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day, a state lawmaker has proposed legislation he says will streamline the investigative process in missing person cases.
Senate Bill 3932, sponsored by state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, would amend the Missing Person Identification Act by requiring a coroner or medical examiner with custody of human remains that are not identified within 72 hours of discovery to notify the FBI for assistance.
The goal is to address underreported and unsolved missing persons cases, especially those involving people of color.
"Most know that the first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical,” Sims said. “Should the identification process go beyond that, families should feel confident in knowing our law enforcement professionals are doing all they can to bring missing loved ones home safely.”
The proposal comes nearly six months after Day, a 25-year-old Danville native and ISU student, was reported missing in late August. His body was discovered a week-and-a-half later near the south bank of the Illinois River, east of the Illinois Route 251 bridge in Peru. But it wasn’t identified by the LaSalle County coroner for nearly three weeks.
Protesters march from the Bloomington Police Department to Illinois State University on Nov. 5 to call for police investigations into the disappearance of ISU graduate student Jelani Day.
The cause of death was later determined to be drowning with the coroner finding no evidence of trauma, though Day’s family continues to insist that he was murdered and did not go into the river by choice.
“It felt like from the time the student was reported missing, there was no drive to find or identify his remains,” said Sims. “I stand with families in frustration, and especially families of color, who have struggled to get fair attention on their cases."
Day’s family met with police officials in Bloomington on Thursday, according to the "Justice for Jelani Day" Facebook page, where friends and family have been posting updates.
"This meeting took months to make happen, but we’re here today, ready to fight harder for Jelani!" the post said.
The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information in connection to the case.
The legislation passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee on a 5-3 roll, with all Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition.
Teachers at Danville High School saw great potential in Jelani Day.
During Jelani Day’s celebration of life, his four siblings sing a tribute backs by a community choir. READ MORE HERE.
Carmen Bolden Day says to work does not end with laying her son to rest. READ MORE HERE.
breaking topical top story
“You’re not going to forget his name because I’m not going to let you,” Carmen Bolden Day said on Saturday.
Pantagraph journalists spent last week in Danville speaking to those who knew Day, and they described him as big-hearted, hard-working and on a path to success.
“He will never be forgotten, Dr. Jelani J.J. Day,” mother Carmen Bolden Day said at the event. "They’re going to remember Jelani’s name forever.”
"Thank you for realizing Jelani was important, not just to us, he was important to everybody," his mother, Carmen Bolden Day, said.
The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office announced this afternoon a person of interest sought by Peru Police has been cleared by investigators and is not a suspect in the case.
Bloomington police Officer John Fermon during a press conference discusses the search for Jelani Day, the Illinois State University student wh…
Missing ISU student identified after body found near Peru. READ MORE HERE.
Authorities on Thursday said a body discovered in a river nearly three weeks ago has been confirmed as a graduate student missing from Illinoi…
Jelani Day, a 25-year-old graduate student at ISU, was last seen the morning of Aug. 24 walking into the Beyond / Hello in Bloomington, accord…
"I want you to know, Jelani is not dead and we will find him," said his mother, speaking to a crowd of supporters on Friday night.
Carmen Bolden Day, mother of missing Illinois State University student Jelani Day, speaks at an event Friday night in support of the search for him.
"I just want to hear him call me and say, ‘Mama, I just called you because I want to hear your voice,’" Jelani Day’s mother said Wednesday.
Carmen Bolden Day, mother of Jelani Day, recounts the last phone call she had with her son prior to his disappearance. Several people gathered…
The Rev. Jesse Jackson told The Pantagraph he expects as many as 1,000 people to attend a Friday march in Bloomington-Normal for Jelani Day, whose mysterious death has stirred national attention.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks with The Pantagraph Thursday morning about the planned march in Bloomington and Normal for Jelani Day, the Illin…
"We want to gain one thing, and that is justice for Jelani Day," said Cameron Barnes, national youth director with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
ISU student Emily Escobedo talks asks for a more thorough investigation into the death of graduate student Jelani Day
As part of the 32nd annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Carmen Bolden Day received the Profile in Courage Award during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s virtual presentation.
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
via pantagraph.com https://pantagraph.com
February 11, 2022 at 05:34PM
Illinois Delivered 