Bloomington Police are continuing their search for Jelani Day. Day was reported missing almost a month ago after he failed to show up for classes for several days and could not be reached. His mother Carmen Bolden Day is calling on neighboring business of Beyond-Hello, a dispensary, to gather camera footage from security cameras. Beyond-Hello is where Jelani Day was seen last.
“Jelani left Beyond Hello and went south,” said Bolden Day. “I’m finding that businesses which were around Veterans Parkway, the cameras are either not good at all you cant see anything, the cameras are pointed towards shrubbery, protecting their vending machines or they are used as a deterrent and don’t work at all.
Bolden Day said their family and law enforcement are trying to piece together some type of timeline.
“To give us some type of idea, ‘Did Jelani stop? Did he see somebody, did someone stop him? Was he with someone at any time?’ Someone had to have seen something with all the technology we have in the world now,” said Bolden Day. “It just amazes me, I don’t know if the people or the businesses are being lazy, and telling me they don’t have anything. Some of the businesses that have allowed us to see the cameras, the pictures are not very clear or they have them pointed at the vending machines, they don’t cover the street. Half of them don’t cover the parking lot, which is terrible, because if a patron out there got assaulted or something happened that business wouldn’t even be able to help.”
A body was found in the Illinois River the same day, but authorities say that the remains are considered a separate case at this point and have not been identified.
Bolden Day said social media is a beast within itself.
“I’ve read things on social media that I’ve decided I have to make myself not read the comments. People are insensitive, rude and disrespectful. I don’t have the energy to deal with rude and disrespectful people right now. I just don’t read them,” said Bolden Day.
Jelani Day’s last known outfit was a Jimi Hendrix t-shirt.
Photo courtesy to Amory Thomas Facebook page
“That shirt was found in his vehicle, when his vehicle was found, along with his blue Detroit Lions hat that he had on,” said Bolden Day. “We’re finding things and the private investigator is working with the Bloomington police. Were trying to find out right now what Jelani did after leaving Beyond-Hello.”
He was at Beyond-Hello on Tuesday morning, Aug. 24, that’s the last day he was seen.
“The last day any of us spoke to him was that Monday evening. After 9:20 on that Tuesday morning was the last time we had any activity from his phone,” said Bolden Day. “His phone didn’t die, the charger was in his car. I don’t know where his phone is, we are trying to find the phone as well.”
Bolden Day said Jelani is studying speech pathology at Illinois State University.
“He did not have a roommate and at this time I’m not aware of any girlfriend,” said Bolden Day.
Carmen Bolden Day will join Cities on the Scott Robbins in the Morning Show on Sept. 23 2021 at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Ashlynne Swan contributed to this story
