Chicago, IL

One Year Later: Jelani Day’s mother still determined to find out what happened to her son

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2022

One Year Later: Jelani Day’s mother still determined to find out what happened to her son

CHICAGO (WLS) — On the surface, Carmen Bolden Day seems robust and unrelenting, however deep down Jelani Day’s mom mentioned her coronary heart breaks day by day as a result of she nonetheless does not know what occurred to her son.

Day was a graduate scholar learning speech pathology at Illinois State College. He was final seen on the campus on August 24, 2021. The following morning, Bolden mentioned he did not reply his calls.

Jelani Day’s household on the lookout for solutions after lacking ISU scholar discovered lifeless in river

“If I textual content him, Jelani would textual content me again, let me know, ‘Mother I will name you proper again,’ or he would name me, however I did not get a textual content again. So I simply went into panic mode,” she mentioned.

The final sighting of him was captured on surveillance video, exhibiting him ready in line at a marijuana dispensary in Bloomington. Days later police discovered his automotive in a wooded space in Peru, Illinois, about 60 miles north of campus.

“I feel again on these days, and I get indignant as a result of I did not obtain the assistance and help from the police right here,” Bolden Day mentioned.

READ MORE: Mom of ISU scholar pulled from river clarifies post-mortem ‘contradictions’

She mentioned she initiated her personal searches with the assistance of household and folks on social media, however she might solely accomplish that a lot.

“I nonetheless did not go all the way down to that river. And I ought to have,” she mentioned.

Practically two weeks after his disappearance, Day’s physique was discovered within the Illinois River practically two miles from the place his automotive was found. The nook dominated his explanation for loss of life to be drowning, however Bolden Day is definite he didn’t die by suicide.

ISU graduate scholar drowned, LaSalle Co. coroner says

“It is foul play. Completely. And someone’s masking up one thing for someone, as a result of none of this is sensible,” she mentioned.

Bolden Day mentioned the delays in her son’s case have been unacceptable; specifically, the delay accessing his cellphone.

READ MORE: Mom exhibits why she believes foul play was concerned in Jelani Day’s loss of life

“The FBI has the cellphone and so they cannot unlock it,” Bolden Day mentioned. “His radio from his automotive, which is meant to be a significant factor that may truly, they imagine that it could inform the place the automotive was, they declare that this radio is in Quantico nevertheless it’s on a two-year backlog.”

ABC7 requested the FBI about these items of proof, however the company mentioned it could’t touch upon lively investigations. Police additionally instructed Bolden Day her son’s automotive had been sitting exterior for the final three weeks as an alternative of in a safe space.

The Peru Police Division would not inform the I-Workforce why Day’s automotive is sitting exterior and wouldn’t converse on digital camera, however did give an announcement on behalf of the Jelani Day Joint Taskforce saying partly, “Advanced loss of life investigations take time to totally examine, and the Jelani Day Joint Job Power is using all obtainable investigative strategies to convey this case to a decision as quickly as doable. The duty pressure continues to solicit ideas from the general public, and the $10,000 reward for substantial data concerning Day’s closing hours stays lively.”

Regardless of many questions that stay unanswered, Bolden Day mentioned she will not develop weary, and that she owes it to her son to maintain going.

“I really like him,” she mentioned. I need him to know I am not going to let folks overlook about him. I will discover out what occurred to him.”

The FBI continues to be taking tips about Jelani Day’s case. When you have any data, name 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Bolden Day is launching the Jelani Day Basis, which helps households of lacking folks of shade get the help and a focus they should discover their family members. It will likely be launched on Saturday at an occasion on ISU’s campus.

For extra data, go to thejelanidayfoundation.org.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.