WARNING – This story contains graphic details of a dead body. Resources for those triggered by this coverage are available here.  

The mother of Jelani Day is speaking out after news surrounding the condition of her son’s body made rounds on social media.  

PREVIOUS: Body of Illinois State Graduate Student Jelani Day Identified by Officials  

The 25-year-old was last seen on the campus of Illinois State University on August 24 before being reported missing on August 25. According to police, his car was found in Peru, Illinois, and agencies began searching for him in the area. A little more than a week later on September 4, a male body was found “near the south bank of the Illinois River,” and the body was identified as Day on September 23.  

A report by the Chicago Sun-Times published Friday said a private forensic pathologist conducting an independent autopsy found that organs were missing from the body. “The corpse had no eyeballs, only sockets. The river’s water had run her course, soaking the body through and through,” the story said. “The family’s private forensic pathologist could find no brain, according to Day and her attorney. No organs. Neither liver. Nor spleen.”  

The report of missing organs quickly began to make its way on social media, with many calling for justice and saying it was a case of organ harvesting.  

On Monday, after a celebration of life service was held to honor the student over the weekend, his mother Carmen Bolden Day responded to the Sun-Times report clarifying what was actually discovered.  

RELATED: Celebration of Life Held for Jelani Day in His Hometown 

According to WMBD, Day’s mother released the following statement:  

“No organs were missing. I do not want to stray off from the facts. There were contradicting facts from the first preliminary autopsy compared to the second independent autopsy, but this is not a case of organ harvesting. However, my son did not put himself in a river. My son was murdered and my goal and purpose are to find out what happened and hold those responsible accountable.”  

Bolden Day has spoken publicly about the disparities in the way cases of white people are handled compared to missing Black people. In an interview with BNC, she said police are trying to create the narrative that her son harmed himself, but she doesn’t believe it. “He was too focused on wanting to become Dr. Jelani Day, to make sure his mom was okay, to make sure his dad was okay, to make sure he was okay,” she said.  

RELATED: Jelani Day’s Mother Highlights Racial Disparities in Handling of Case 

This is a developing story that will be updated.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.