A statement released by the LaSalle County Coroner states that the death of Danville native Jelani Day has been ruled as a drowning.
The statement reads in part as follows: “Unfortunately, there is no specific positive test at autopsy for drowning. Drowning is considered a diagnosis of exclusion with supporting investigation circumstances when a person is found deceased in a body of water. Although the examination was suboptimal based upon the degree of decomposition as predation activity while the body was within the river during a period of warm weather, there was no evidence of any antemortem injury, such as manual strangulation, assault or altercation; or sharp, blunt, or gunshot injury. The manner in which Mr. Day went into the Illinois River is currently unknown.”
Day’s body was found floating near the south bank of the Illinois River in LaSalle County nine days after his car was discovered in a wooded area of Peru, and ten days after he was reported missing by his family. As the Commercial-News reported, a march in memory of Day was scheduled for in Peru today, and was to include the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
