Episode
Jelani Day: The River Never Gave Him Back
- Published
- May 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3029
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/serve.castfire.com/audio/8241599/8241599_2026-04-14-030639.256.mp3?rssID=6058
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Summary
In August 2021, 25-year-old Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day was last seen leaving a dispensary in Bloomington-Normal, far from his apartment and with no clear reason to be there. His car was found abandoned miles away. Weeks later, his unclothed body was recovered from the Illinois River. The coroner ruled accidental drowning, but his mother refused to accept that answer. She launched a relentless public campaign that put a spotlight on how missing Black men are treated by investigators and the media. How did a focused, driven graduate student end up in a river with no explanation? If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow The Final Hours to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. The Final Hours is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals including Clues, Crime House 24/7, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios The Final Hours is hosted by Sarah Turney & Kourtney Nichole Instagram: @saraheturney | @crimewithkourt TikTok: @saraheturney | @crimewithkourt