A federal grand jury in Urbana has returned a superseding indictment charging a Champaign man with kidnapping resulting in death of a visiting Chinese scholar. Twenty-eight year old Brent Christensen is charged with kidnapping resulting in death of Yingying Zhang on June 9th. Christensen was also indicted on two counts of making false statements to FBI agents in June.
Christensen had previously been indicted on charges of kidnapping Yingying Zhang. If convicted on kidnapping resulting in death charges, Christensen could face the death penalty or mandatory life in prison. The decision on whether the government seeks the death penalty rests solely with the U.S. Attorney General. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Hansen and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Cox of the Springfield Division announced the indictment.
The indictment alleges that Zhang’s death occurred during the commission of a kidnapping, and that Christensen committed the offense of an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner – in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse to the victim.
Information in the indictment says Christensen made false statements to FBI Agents on two occasions. One was on June 12th when the indictment alleges Christensen falsely told agents he stayed at his apartment and slept and played video games all day on June 9, 2017, when he knew full well that he drove around the University of Illinois campus and picked up Zhang as she was waiting for a bus. The indictment further alleges Christensen falsely told an FBI agent that he dropped off an Asian female in a residential area shortly after picking her up in his vehicle on June 9th, when he knew full well that he did not drop the female off, but instead took her back to his apartment.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.