New evidence in missing student case
Print Edition
A US judge has ordered the man accused of kidnapping University of Illinois student Zhang Yingying to be held in jail indefinitely until he goes on trial.
Brendt Christensen, 28, of Champaign, a former graduate student at the university from Wisconsin, was making his second court appearance in Urbana on Wednesday. He did not speak during the 20-minute hearing.
US Magistrate Judge Eric Long made the ruling based on new evidence presented by assistant attorney Bryan Freres. While under surveillance, Christensen was allegedly captured on a recording picking out other potential victims and talking about the “characteristics of an ideal victim” during a vigil for Zhang at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus on June 29. It has been confirmed that Christensen attended the vigil.
Other evidence included a recording of Christensen describing how he kidnapped Zhang and how she “fought and resisted” when he brought her back to his apartment, and threatening the person to whom he provided the incriminating information.
Long said the evidence “seemed strong,” and ordered Christensen, whom he called a flight risk and a danger to the community, to be held without bond.
“The ruling is within our expectation,” said US lawyer Wang Zhidong, who has been offering legal support to the Zhang family on a voluntary basis.
A preliminary hearing of the case is set for July 14.
However, if the majority of the Grand Jury believes in the evidence submitted, the suspect may be indicted before the date and the preliminary hearing canceled.
Christensen’s attorneys said “in a case like this, it’s not unusual for bail to be denied.”
The suspect, in gray striped prison clothes, entered the court room from a side door and took a seat beside his two lawyers, while Zhang’s family were accompanied by Chinese consuls and volunteers.
Christensen didn’t looked at the family during his court appearance.
However, Zhang Ronggao, the missing student’s father, stared at the suspect the whole time. Occasionally, he lowered his head and rested it in his hands. During the whole process, he appeared quiet and calm.
Outside the courthouse, there were people holding banners reading: “We the people are with Yingying,” “Justice for Yingying, Where is she?” and “Justice to Yingying and her family.”
Lu Ting, a teacher at the university, said Wednesday’s ruling is the first step toward justice for Zhang. The legal procedure may last long, but it is taking the right direction, Lu said.
Chinese Deputy Consul General in Chicago Liu Jun said the Chinese Consulate in Chicago had been involved in the case from the beginning, and has kept in touch with local police, urging them to solve the case as quickly as possible and relaying to them reasonable requests from Zhang’s family.
“The top priority at present is to locate the whereabouts of Yingying,” he said.
The 26-year-old was last seen on a security camera video entering a black Saturn Astra car on the edge of the university campus around 2pm on June 9.
She arrived at the university in late April this year, and was on her way to sign a lease when she went missing.
The FBI arrested Christensen, the owner of a black Saturn Astra, on June 30. Based on facts uncovered during the investigation, agents believe Zhang is no longer alive.
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