Kidnapping indictment returned in China scholar's abduction

Kidnapping indictment returned in China scholar’s abduction

Brendt Christensen is charged with kidnapping Yingying Zhang. | Macon County Sheriff’s Office

URBANA — A grand jury has indicted a 28-year-old in the abduction of a University of Illinois scholar from China, confirming a decision by federal agents to arrest and charge Brendt Christensen last month.

The federal grand jury in central Illinois returned the indictment on Wednesday.

Yingying Zhang | Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois Police Department via AP

It charges Christensen with kidnapping 26-year-old Yingying Zhang on June 9 off campus in Urbana. Indictments indicate a grand jury agrees there’s enough evidence to justify a charge.

Investigators say Zhang was abducted on her way to sign an apartment lease. They allege that Christensen lured her into his car. After Christensen’s June 30 arrest, investigators said they believe Zhang is dead but they haven’t found her body.

The indictment means a preliminary hearing set for Friday is canceled. An arraignment date will be set in coming days.

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