A grand jury has formally charged Brendt Christensen, of Champaign, for kidnapping in the case missing University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang.
The indictment reads that Christensen
“…willfully and unlawfully seized, confined, inveigled, decoyed, kidnapped, abducted, and carried away” Ms. Zhang “and otherwise held her for his own benefit and purpose, and used and caused to be used a means, facility and instrumentality of interstate commerce, namely, a Motorola cellular telephone and a Saturn Astra motor vehicle, in committing and in furtherance of the commission of the offense.”
He remains in the Macon County Jail as he was denied bond at an earlier hearing. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of kidnapping.
Christensen was arrested on June 30th after being heard on tape describing kidnapping Zhang and holding her in his apartment.
Zhang, remains missing, but the U.S. attorney’s office reiterated Wednesday, that they believe that Ms. Zhang is deceased. The case remains active.
