If we need to contact you, we will contact you on this email.
Your name please so that we can credit your work.
The Kidnapping of Yingying Zhang
Brendt Christensen, a former physics graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, is known for his involvement in the high-profile kidnapping case of Yingying Zhang—a visiting scholar from China. The case drew national and international attention due to its tragic nature and the cross-cultural impact.
Yingying Zhang, a young Chinese scholar, arrived in the United States to begin research at the University of Illinois. On June 9, 2017, she was last seen at a bus stop on the Urbana–Champaign campus. She had planned to travel to a nearby apartment complex to sign a lease. At 1:39 p.m., she texted the apartment manager to inform them she would arrive around 2:10 p.m.
Video surveillance later showed that Zhang boarded a Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus, got off at 1:52 p.m., and attempted to transfer to another bus. Unable to locate the correct stop and visibly confused, she tried to flag down a different bus but was unsuccessful. She was last captured on video willingly entering a black Saturn Astra, which investigators later determined was driven by Brendt Christensen.
On June 30, 2017, the FBI arrested and formally charged Brendt Christensen with the kidnapping of Yingying Zhang. At the time of his arrest, Christensen was under FBI surveillance and had allegedly made incriminating statements, including comments about holding Zhang and references to past criminal behavior.
As the investigation progressed, authorities concluded that Zhang was deceased, although her body was never recovered. Christensen’s cell phone and computer revealed disturbing searches related to abduction and serial killers, further supporting the case against him.
He was later tried and found guilty not only of kidnapping but also of murder. In July 2019, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The disappearance of Yingying Zhang deeply affected both the local community in Champaign-Urbana and communities in China. The University of Illinois hosted vigils and memorials in her honor. Her case prompted discussions regarding international student safety and the responsibilities of host institutions in supporting visiting scholars.
Source you received the information from. eg. personal experiences, acquaintances, web-links, etc
Briefly describe the changes you made.