Nearly two months after her son’s sudden death, Jane Polhill, the mother of the late Columbia student Jay Polhill, continues to question how her son died and why her inquiries remain unanswered. For days following his disappearance, Polhill’s mother, along with her family and friends, relied heavily on numerous social networking Web sites, such as Reddit.com, in hopes of finding the missing student.

However, despite their desperate search, Polhill, a sophomore photography major, was found dead on March 2 in the Little Calumet River at 126th Street and Stony Island Avenue. Details about his  whereabouts leading up to his disappearance remain unclear.  Still, Polhill said she thinks someone knows what happened to her son.

“The police have no solid leads,” Polhill said. “I’m looking for someone who knows something to please talk to the police. I think someone knows what happened to Jay, and either they are too afraid to come forward, or they don’t know that they are supposed to, but I just want closure on this.”

The weeks following Polhill’s death stirred up rumors of drug abuse and distribution across campus. However, on April 21, his mother confirmed the toxicology reports came back negative for cocaine and heroin.

The search for Jay has come to a standstill, and Polhill’s mother wonders why. Polhill said the Chicago Police Department was very kind in driving to her home in Lena, Ill. However, she wishes the investigation will soon result in answers, bringing her closure.

“Jay meant the world to us, and for this to be forgotten—it’s unfair to Jay and his friends,” Polhill said. “I’m trying to do everything I can.  As a mother, I just need closure. I am frustrated and I’m just looking for some help.”

Despite no answers from authorities,  Polhill continues her search for the explanation behind her son’s death. In hopes of putting some of the pieces together, she is working with a private investigator and hired a medium who was suggested to her by a friend.

“I’m just desperate at this point,” she said. “I just want Jay back, and it’s not going to happen. I just want to know what happened to him.”

Polhill met with the medium on April 22 and said she felt as though Jay was on the other end of the conversation.

“It was definitely Jay,” Polhill said. “There were things she knew that there was no way she could have known about him. There were definitely some things that

he wanted her to tell us and definitely some things that he wanted to tell Tiana [his girlfriend].”

An advertisement urging students to step forward in the investigation was placed in The Chronicle by both Martha Meegan, director of Campus Safety and Security, and Polhill’s family.  However, according to Polhill, no information was provided to the police in response to the ad.

Associate Vice President of Campus Safety and Security Bob Koverman said the college is working in conjunction with the CPD  and will continue to offer support to the Polhills in any way possible. He could not comment further because the case remains an ongoing investigation.

Janice Johnson, executive director of The University Center, said she and her colleagues are saddened by the situation.

“[With] anything that has such a tragic ending, lots of compassion goes out to the family and friends,” Johnson said. “I feel very sorry for his family, his friends and his roommates during this difficult time.”

Despite the lack of leads on the case, Polhill hopes someone will come forward with details that would assist the investigation.

“I am just hoping someone comes forward with information as to what happened to my son,” Polhill said. “The more we keep it out there, maybe someone will remember something.”

Anyone with information about Jay’s whereabouts between Feb. 28 and March 2  is urged to contact  the Chicago Police Department at (312) 746-6000.