‘Sounded very distraught’: Mother seeking help finding son last seen near Calumet River

CHICAGO — A mother is devastated and asking for more help to find her 24-year-old son — who was last seen near the Calumet River two weeks ago.

Jovon “JB” Nelson, 24, was seen by a bridge worker near the Ewing Avenue Bridge on April 9, according to his mother Tangela Nelson.

Nelson was staying at a residence in the 3200 block of East 92nd Street and called his mother before running out of the home wearing a black t-shirt and gray sweatpants. He had no socks, no shoes, no ID and no phone.

Family believes he was suffering from a mental health crisis.

“He sounded very distraught, scared and anxious,” Tangela Nelson said.

Nelson and loved ones have been searching the area with dogs and drones since and a $3,000 reward is available. It originally started at $2,500 and $500 was recently added, according to Nelson.

She said there’s been a lack of help from the authorities that’s frustrated her.

Nelson told WGN News the Coast Guard refused to deploy resources in the river and Chicago police are not looking as well.

“They’re not helping,” she said. “Haven’t had any help since day one.”

The Coast Guard discussed the circumstances of the incident with WGN News.

A lieutenant said their office was notified by family on April 13. Prior to that, a CPD marine unit investigated and found there wasn’t a reason to believe he entered the water, according to the Coast Guard.

Because of “no intelligence” that he entered the water, a search mission in the Calumet River has not been conducted by the Coast Guard, the lieutenant said.

Nelson is 5’9″, 140 lbs., with brown eyes and dreadlocks.

Anyone with information can call 911 or detectives at 312-747-8274. To join the family’s search party, you can text 773-938-2808.