Accused kidnapper makes first court appearance

Posted on July 3, 2017
The FBI arrested a Champaign man for abducting U of I visiting scholar Yingying Zhang. Investigators believe the Chinese student is dead.
(Photo courtesy of University of Illinois)

By Greg Halbleib

URBANA – The man accused of kidnapping a University of Illinois scholar from China has appeared in court for the first time with dozens of people gathered outside.

Brendt Christensen is charged with abducting Yingying Zhang, 26, on June 9. Authorities don’t believe Zhang is alive although she has not been found.

WCIA reports hundreds of people outside the federal courthouse in Urbana, some chanting, “Justice for Yingying.”

Zhang’s father, aunt and boyfriend were in the courtroom for the hearing. Christensen, 26, of Champaign, did not speak other than to say he understood the charges and conversed with his attorney.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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