Grand jury indicts suspect in U of I abduction

Posted on July 12, 2017

 

A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted Brendt Christensen for allegedly kidnapping visiting U of I scholar Yingying Zhang. FBI believes Zhang is dead, but her body has not been found.
(Photo courtesy of University of Illinois)

 

By Howard Packowitz

CHAMPAIGN – A federal grand jury has indicted a Champaign man on a kidnapping charge for the abduction last month of University of Illinois visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.

The indictment means grand jurors believe there’s sufficient evidence to hold Brendt Christensen, 28, for trial.

Zhang, who’s from China, has not been seen since June 9. The FBI believes she is dead, but they have not found the woman’s body.

Christensen has allegedly made incriminating statements indicating Zhang fought him while holding the woman against her will at his apartment.

Christensen is jailed without bond, and faces up to life in prison if he’s convicted.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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