Case 176
Yingying Zhang
*** Content Warning: sexual assault ***
In 2017, the future looked bright for 26-year-old Yingying Zhang as she travelled from her hometown in China to study environmental science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. But on June 9 2017, Yingying left work to attend an appointment and never returned.
CCTV footage revealed that Yingying had been picked up by someone driving a black Saturn Astra. Investigators quickly realised that they weren’t dealing with a missing person case; this was a kidnapping. Their digging soon led them to a prime suspect: a self-professed serial killer named Brendt Christensen.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Music – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
DOCUMENTARIES
ABC News 20/20 – ‘Undercover Girlfriend’
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
Affidavit for Brendt Christensen arrest
US v Christensen – defence motion to suppress evidence
Transcript of Terra Bullis’s body wire
ARTICLES
US police seek information on car where missing Chinese scholar last seen – China Daily
Police seek help to find missing U. of I. scholar – Chicago Tribune
FBI offers reward to find students – The Pantagraph
Chinese scholar’s disappearance shakes up U. of I. – The Pantagraph
Mystery of missing Chinese scholar – Daily Press
Walk, concert for Yingying Zhang – The News-Gazette
UI prof on former grad student’: ‘Utter shock – The News-Gazette
It’s creepy, how he walked – The News-Gazette
Jim Dey: Not much to see inside federal courtroom – The News-Gazette
Emotions flow outside courthouse as UI scholar remains missing – The News-Gazette
Missing U. of I. student’s family speaks of ordeal – Chicago Tribune
Christensen attorneys seek to quit – Herald and Review
Superseding indictment: Christensen charged with kidnapping resulting in scholar’s death – The News-Gazette
Search for Yingying Zhang: Family returning to China for mom’s health – The News-Gazette
Memorial service planned on anniversary of UI scholar’s disappearance – The News-Gazette
Memorial garden dedicated to missing scholar Yingying Zhang – The Daily Illini
Christensen trial moved to Peoria – The News-Gazette
Reporter’s Notebook: Complete notes from the Christensen trial – WCIA.com
Accused U. of I. killer’s ex-lover tells of wearing wire – Chicago Tribune
Christensen’s ex-girlfriend on wearing wire: ‘I wanted to know why he was lying – The News-Gazette
Slain UI scholar’s family: ‘Emotional distress has been… unbearable – The News-Gazette
Jury to decide fate of man who killed Chinese scholar – Chicago Tribune
Christensen sentencing: ‘The only question that remains is when his death occurs – The News-Gazette
Prosecutor: Death penalty warranted – Journal Gazette
Father of slain scholar: ‘It’s completely unbearable’ – Chicago Tribune
Christensen sentencing, day 2: ‘How am I supposed to carry on living? – The News-Gazette
Christensen avoids death penalty after jury says it cannot reach unianimous verdict – The News-Gazette
Yingying Zhang murder: anger in China as US killer of scholar spared death penalty – The Guardian
U. of I. names endowment in honor of slain scholar Yingying Zhang – WTTW
Yingying Zhang’s family told her body likely in landfill near Danville, but ‘may be impossible’ to recover – CBS Chicago
Yingying Zhang’s family: ‘When we find her, we will leave – The News-Gazette
He is a heartless and evil person – The News-Gazette
Family of slain Chinese scholar holds memorial – ABC News
Scholar’s family to give $20,000 for help in case – The Times
Brendt Christensen moved to Kentucky prison to serve out life sentence – WTTW
Police officers, detective to be honored in Yingying Zhang case – The Daily Illini
A Chinese scholar dreamed of coming to America. And then she vanished – Daily Beast