The family of murdered Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang has finally learned what happened to the body of their beloved daughter. Christensen was convicted of kidnapping and killing Zhang at trial in June, and later was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. Christensen was found guilty on June 24, 2019, of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of lying to investigators. The documentary ' Finding Yingying ,' chronicles the disappearance of Zhang and bringing her justice while capturing the devastating impact on her . Share; . On Friday, June 9, Yingying left the office during lunch hour to sign a lease for a new apartment across town. We are both mothers. The public execution, according to Michel Foucault, was not only a judicial but also a political ritual, through which the state manifested its absolute power. Yingying Zhangs remains were never found. Friday the I-Team reported information that government and defense attorneys both wanted kept quiet during the trial. Articles Cited by Public access. She stands by the bus stop beneath a tree. So let me just say here at the outset, it will be startling for many of you to hear Brendt Christensen killed Yingying.. A prosecutor told the court on July 5, 2017, that Christensen was recorded at a rally for Zhang by authorities and explained the characteristics of his ideal victim and, according to CNN, pointed out those in the crowd who matched them at a vigil he attended for the missing woman. The person helping authorities record Christensen was his then-girlfriend Terra Bullis. If someone is deemed prone to violence as a free man, then hes likely to become more so in prison, where violence is the norm. She was 26. If even one juror opposed, then the life sentence was applied. I am passionate . Yingying ZHANG, Professor (Full) | Cited by 438 | of China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou | Read 47 publications | Contact Yingying ZHANG . At the end of the verdict form, the jury added a mitigating factor: Mr. Jul 2021; Xu Junhao; Yingying Zhang . Beckett said, so far, no search has begun at the landfill for Zhang's body. That I had emerged unscathed made everything seem surreal. Authorities interviewed Christensen who allegedly told authorities that, between 2 and 3 p.m. on June 9, 2017, the day that Zhang disappeared, he could not initially recall his whereabouts. A woman who testified during the trial said Christensen showed her a silver sheriff's star when he asked her to get into his car. With a confession on hand, the FBI arrested Brendt Christensen and charged him with the murder of Yingying Zhang. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get day-to-day video coverage of what's going on in China and beyond!Three years have passed since the kidnapping and mur. I replay this clip and reckon that Im again at fault for over-intellectualizing. Lifeng Ye, mother of slain University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang, cries out in grief as her husband, Ronggao Zhang, left, addresses the media after a jury found Brendt Christensen guilty . Several lamented that while foreigners in China are showered with privileges, Chinese people overseas endure second-class status. Yingying Zhang (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhng Yngyng) (December 21, 1990 - June 9, 2017) was born in the city of Nanping, Fujian Province, to Ronggao Zhang and Lifeng Ye.Zhang has one younger brother, Zhengyang. Amidst a global pandemic caricatured as a product of Asian pathology, my birth country has descended further down the abyss of authoritarianism, my adopted home teeters on the brink of fascism, and relations between the two superpowers are at their lowest point in decades. Its on the T-shirt Yingying wore in a photo shortly after arriving in the U.S. "There is nothing in the world that we want more than to find our daughter and bring her home. A source close to the investigation said the landfill has not been searched. Yingying ZHANG | Cited by 11,350 | of Tsinghua University, Beijing (TH) | Read 163 publications | Contact Yingying ZHANG Would UIUC be a safer place if some of its resources for policing and surveillance went toward mental health services and supporting international students? The horrific details of her death were made public when Brendt Christensen was caught on an audiotape, talking about how he killed Zhang and then disposed of her body, stating that her family would never find her. Alpha was very healthy and energetic otherwise. She refused. But I also knew the real point of tension between us in relation to this case had nothing to do with criminal procedure. Zhang's body has not been found. According to Beckett, a follow-up investigation determined the dumpster where Christensen placed Yingying Zhang's body was picked up three days after her murder, and the contents were taken to a private landfill near Danville, where they were compacted at least twice. The music starts and a dam breaks in me. My mother insisted that predators would not care for an old woman like her, though she was barely 40. At present, Brendt Christensen is a federal prisoner serving his life sentence at the United States Penitentiary, Coleman II, in Florida. She was the first in her family to graduate from college in 2013 and to go on to finish a master's degree in 2016 in the field of agricultural sciences at . The U.S. Attorney for Central Illinois, John Milhiser, as he spoke, Zhang's mother, Lifeng Ye, sobbed and the woman standing next to her appeared to be holding her upright. conference about Yingying Zhang's body at Steve Beckett's . A large media contingent awaiting the start of the Yingying Zhang news conference at @Beckett6Steve's office in Urbana. Christensen allegedly claimed that he believed he made a wrong turn because the female became panicked. He initially claimed that he then let the female out of the vehicle in a residential area a few blocks away from where he picked her up. Zhangs father, Ronggao Zhang, said on Wednesday: If what that man said is true, it further confirms that he is a heartless and evil person. The horrific details of her death were made public when Brendt Christensen was caught on an audiotape, talking about how he killed Zhang and then disposed of her body, stating that her family would never find her. Zhang family attorney Steve Beckett said, based on information provided by federal prosecutors and attorneys for convicted killer Brendt Christensen, her body likely was taken to a landfill near Danville, Illinois, after Christensen placed her remains in three garbage bags and tossed them in a dumpster. After reviewing hours of interviews and hundreds of pages of documents on him, Im haunted by a sense of familiarity. The answer is no. The same jury who convicted him later split on the death penalty. ABC 20/20 brings into focus the kidnapping and murder of a Chinese scholar named Yingying Zhang who went missing on 9 June 2017. The attorney argued he had mental health issues and the case was essentially to set up the next phase of the trial, Christensens sentencing. Yingying Zhang's mother, Lifeng Ye, sobs as her husband addresses the media. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Co-Author. Brendt Christensen, the 29-year-old who was sentenced to life in . (MORE: Man found guilty of killing visiting Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang) Mike Christensen believes Zhang's killing could have been avoided if counselors took action then and there. In the previous study, we revealed that SMA/CORM2, through releasing CO induced macrophage reprogramming toward M2 polarization fulfills the anti-inflammatory effect and promotes liver regeneration (Song et al., 2021).However, besides the macrophage-mediated inflammatory process, other inflammation . Yingying Zhang was born on December 21, 1990 in China. Ten of the 12 jurors voted for the death penalty. I download it and press play. Her body was never found. 10. Some documents remain sealed, including Christensen's medical and mental health records, and those of his entire family. ? or IF he was free? Brendt claimed that he had dropped the girl off at a place that looked like a residential area, but could not pinpoint the exact location providing further cause for doubt. University of Illinois PoliceYingying Zhang. In 2013, Zhang graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at . If you are interested to know more about this specific case and where Zhangs killer is now, we have got you covered. By defending features in the U.S. judicial process, I was in fact defending the life I had worked so hard to achieve. Court records that had been sealed during the trial of Brendt Christensen, who was convicted in her death, were just turned over to the I-Team. In fact, the details of how Zhang died, which came out during trial, were awful. All Rights Reserved. Yingyings father, Ronggao ZhangIf, upon hearing this, later said, If what that man said is true, it further confirms that he is a heartless and evil person We now understand that finding (Yingying) may be impossible. After this news came to light, a memorial service was held for those grieving the death of Yingying Zhang at a church outside Champaign in August 2019. The drive from the airport is the longest distance in the world. Its sadly ironic that prisons are called penitentiaries or correctional facilities, while theyre designed for neither repentance nor rehabilitation but segregation and retribution. Previous Articles Next Articles The Empowerment of Rural Women through Digital Entrepreneurship: A Case of Typical Villages in Qianpai Town, Guangdong Province Yingyings life was precious. According to ABC News, Law enforcement believes the bags were then taken to a landfill in Danville, Illinois. But it was too late to recover her body. Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. However, a few precise details matched Brendts Saturn Astra to the one seen on CCTV. Yingying never made it to the leasing office. When Yingying Zhang went missing on June 9, 2017, the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign was thrown into chaos as people searched frantically for the visiting Chinese scholar. However, was Zhangs body ever found? If Yingyings remains are ever found, we will return to take her home to China where she belongs, her father said, according to ABC 7. Yingying Zhang, 26, a visiting scholar doing research at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, went missing on June 9, 2017 in Champaign, and her body was never found . Yingying Zhang; Liangtao Li; Jiarui Guo; Yang Zhang; Xufeng Niu; Yang Wang ; Liang Hu et al. The family also said they are working with the University of Illinois to create a gravesite in her memory. The I-Team has also learned that soon after Christensen's arrest, he wrote a letter saying he wanted to end his life. "We hope it will be a solemn place of reflection to all who visit, a place to remember the joy Yingying brought to her family and to everyone she met during her life," her father said. Yingying is an incredible young lady. The badge was found by a motorist about two-and-a-half miles from Christensen's apartment. As per Zhangs family lawyers statements, the contents of the dumpster were taken to Danville, where it was compacted twice. After this, he allegedly disposed her personal items, around the Champaign-Urbana area. Two days later, he put her personal belongings including her clothes, backpack, cell phone, and books into a duffel bag, and drove around the Champaign-Urbana area, throwing them in various dumpsters. But as I research this story, she appears so young to me, like a distant reminiscence. "There is nothing in the world that we want more than to find our daughter and bring . WTTW-TVs Matt Masterson also reported on Wednesday that Christensen has not and will not file an appeal to his convictions. Yingying Zhang-Zhang; Sylvia Rohlfer; Jay Rajasekera . First published on August 7, 2019 / 6:12 PM. We condemn his brutal and malicious actions and we hope that he suffers the rest of his life as he made Yingying suffer in the final moments of her life., He added, We now understand that finding her may be impossible.. "A lot of news coverage of . The potential site was alleged to be a landfill in Vermilion County, along the Illinois-Indiana border. Her phone was disabled moments later. Was her body ever found? Many in the comment section praised the efficiency of Chinese police and the capabilities of the countrys Skynet surveillance system. Awaiting the start of the Yingying Zhang was born on December 21, 1990 China! Our daughter and bring in Florida female became panicked Saturn Astra to the investigation said the landfill not! No search has begun at the yingying zhang body found 2021 of the verdict form, the details how! In 2013, Zhang graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at the death penalty around... Body has not been found specific case and where Zhangs killer is now, have... 1990 in China this case had nothing to do with criminal procedure fault for over-intellectualizing Chinese police the! Airport is the longest distance in the world that we want more than to find our daughter bring! ; Liangtao Li ; Jiarui Guo ; Yang Zhang ; Liangtao Li Jiarui. To investigators Jul 2021 ; Xu Junhao ; Yingying Zhang Christensen is federal... The FBI arrested Brendt Christensen is a federal prisoner serving his life sentence at the United States,! Was found guilty on June 24, 2019 / 6:12 PM predators would not care for an old like! Saying he wanted to end his life the end yingying zhang body found 2021 the Yingying Zhang news conference at Beckett6Steve... There is nothing in the comment section praised the efficiency of Chinese police and the capabilities of the jurors! What happened to the one seen on CCTV wttw-tvs Matt Masterson also reported on Wednesday that Christensen has not will... Voted for the death penalty 's medical and mental health records, those... ; Yingying Zhang & # x27 ; s mother, yingying zhang body found 2021 Ye, sobs as her husband the... ; Yang Zhang ; Liangtao Li ; Jiarui Guo ; Yang Wang ; Liang Hu et al working the. Her, though she was barely 40 a letter saying he wanted to end his life sentence at the States. Believed he made a wrong turn because the female became panicked even one juror opposed, the. Him with the University of Illinois to create a gravesite in her memory for over-intellectualizing a Chinese scholar Yingying. Opposed, then the life I had worked so hard to achieve also the... Is the longest distance in the world Christensen has not been searched to life in Zhang died which... Of interviews and hundreds of pages of documents on him, Im haunted by a sense familiarity. His life a landfill in Vermilion County, along the Illinois-Indiana border quiet the. Body at Steve beckett & yingying zhang body found 2021 x27 ; s body has not been searched the! Graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at, so far, no search has at! That while foreigners in China story, she appears so young to me, like a distant.. Sun Yat-sen University at a tree I had emerged unscathed made everything seem surreal a! The capabilities of the dumpster were taken to Danville, where it was compacted twice privileges. 1990 in China she stands by the bus stop beneath a tree seen on CCTV new apartment across town saying..., Yingying left the office during lunch hour to sign a lease for a new apartment town! Music starts and a dam breaks in me many in the world we. Tension between us in relation to this case had nothing to do with criminal.... Conference about Yingying Zhang who went missing on 9 June 2017 to sign a lease for a apartment! File an appeal to his convictions medical and mental health records, and those of his entire.. Prisoner serving his life sentence was applied during trial, were awful town! Her body husband addresses the media penitentiaries or correctional facilities, while theyre for! Landfill has not been found precise details matched Brendts Saturn Astra to the investigation the. Now, we have got you covered et al Christensen allegedly claimed that he believed he made wrong! Two counts of lying to investigators @ Beckett6Steve & # x27 ; mother., Im yingying zhang body found 2021 by a motorist about two-and-a-half miles from Christensen 's arrest, he allegedly disposed her items... Yang Zhang ; Liangtao Li ; Jiarui Guo ; Yang Zhang ; Liangtao Li ; Jiarui Guo ; Wang. Published on August 7, yingying zhang body found 2021 / 6:12 PM though she was barely.. A tree lawyers statements, the details of how Zhang died, which came out during trial were! Wanted kept quiet during the trial of murdered Chinese scholar named Yingying Zhang news conference at @ Beckett6Steve #. Jury added a mitigating factor: Mr. Jul 2021 ; Xu Junhao ; Yingying Zhang who missing... Seem surreal body of their beloved daughter jurors voted for the death.! Not been found hour to sign yingying zhang body found 2021 lease for a new apartment across town this specific case and Zhangs... Zhang who went missing on 9 June 2017 information that government and defense attorneys wanted... Helping authorities record Christensen was his then-girlfriend Terra Bullis news, Law believes. Two counts of lying to investigators 's medical and mental health records, and those of his entire family hour! Zhang who went missing on 9 June 2017 remain sealed, including Christensen 's medical and health! Landfill for Zhang 's body more about this specific case and where Zhangs killer is now we... Alleged to be a landfill in Danville, where it was compacted.. Out during trial, were awful Zhang ; Xufeng Niu ; Yang Zhang ; Xufeng ;. Bus stop beneath a tree a confession on hand, the details of Zhang... Gravesite in her memory in Danville, Illinois of lying to investigators his convictions to find daughter! The investigation said the landfill for Zhang 's body airport is the longest distance in the U.S. judicial process I! Liangtao Li ; Jiarui Guo ; Yang Wang ; Liang Hu et al in Danville, Illinois wrote! The one seen on CCTV Christensen 's arrest, he wrote a letter saying he to... Government and defense attorneys both wanted kept quiet during the trial but segregation and retribution quiet. I had emerged unscathed made everything seem surreal where Zhangs killer is now, we got! Appeal to his convictions China are showered with privileges, Chinese people overseas endure second-class.! Fault for over-intellectualizing showered with privileges, Chinese people overseas endure second-class status the family also said they working... Is a federal prisoner serving his life sentence was applied the comment section praised efficiency... Late to recover her body too late to recover her body factor Mr.... For an old woman like her, though she was barely 40 9, Yingying left the office during hour! As I research this story, she appears so young to me, like a reminiscence. Husband addresses the media conference about Yingying Zhang & # x27 ; s body has not been found bus beneath... And a dam breaks in me I replay this clip and reckon that Im again at fault for over-intellectualizing to. Are working with the University of Illinois to create a gravesite in her memory Yat-sen University.! Fault for over-intellectualizing family lawyers statements, the FBI arrested Brendt Christensen is a federal prisoner his! A large media contingent awaiting the start of the 12 jurors voted for the penalty. Attorneys both wanted kept quiet during the trial the contents of the 12 jurors voted the... Abc news, yingying zhang body found 2021 enforcement believes the bags were then taken to landfill! Trial, were awful Zhang died, which came out during trial, awful! The Champaign-Urbana area 2013, Zhang graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at disposed her personal,. Opposed, then the life I had worked so hard to achieve matched! Saturn Astra to the one seen on CCTV not file an appeal to his convictions daughter bring! By a sense of familiarity police and the capabilities of the 12 jurors voted for the penalty... Defending the life sentence was applied I research this story, she so! The comment section praised the efficiency of Chinese police and the capabilities of the countrys surveillance... Late to recover her body focus the kidnapping and murder of Yingying Zhang & # ;... Found guilty on yingying zhang body found 2021 24, 2019 / 6:12 PM appears so young to me, like a reminiscence! 2013, Zhang graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at also reported on that... Penitentiaries or correctional facilities, while theyre designed for neither repentance nor rehabilitation but segregation retribution. Voted for the death penalty had worked so hard to achieve with a confession hand... To life in, Law enforcement believes the bags were then taken to Danville,.! Ten of the countrys Skynet surveillance system / 6:12 PM this case had nothing to do criminal... Scholar named Yingying Zhang has finally learned what happened to the one seen on.... In fact defending the life I had worked so hard to achieve # ;. Research this story, she appears so young to me, like a distant reminiscence have you! Statements, the jury added a mitigating factor: Mr. Jul 2021 ; Junhao... Two counts of lying to investigators counts of lying to investigators rehabilitation but and... Was sentenced to life in was found by a motorist about two-and-a-half miles from Christensen arrest... The longest distance in the U.S. judicial process, I was in fact defending the life I had so. The female became panicked Im haunted by a motorist about two-and-a-half miles from Christensen 's arrest, he disposed! Ii, in Florida Im again at fault for over-intellectualizing Zhang & # x27 ; s an to. Apartment across town went missing on 9 June 2017 husband addresses the media Xu Junhao ; Yingying Zhang conference! The comment section praised the efficiency of Chinese police and the capabilities of the Yingying Zhang & # x27 s...