URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - The FBI has announced an arrest has been made in the kidnapping of visiting Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
FBI officials say agents arrested Brendt Christensen, 27, Friday evening on a criminal complaint in connection with the June 9 disappearance of Yingying Zhang. Zhang was last seen getting into a black Saturn Astra at the corner of West Clark Street and North Goodwin Avenue.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the complaint, FBI officials say Christensen was driving the Astra that Zhang entered. Additionally, while Christensen was under surveillance earlier this week, FBI officials say agents overheard him say that he had kidnapped Zhang.
Law enforcement officials say that they no longer believe Ms. Zhang is alive, based on these statements and other facts uncovered during the investigation. University of Illinois Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler released the following statement Friday night:
"The entire campus community is saddened by this news and our hearts are with the family of Yingying Zhang tonight. This is a senseless and devastating loss of a promising young woman and a member of our community. There is nothing we can do to ease the sadness or grief for her family and friends, but we can and we will come together to support them in any way we can in these difficult days ahead."
Christensen is currently in custody on a preliminary charge of kidnapping. Officials say he will remain in custody pending his first federal court appearance, scheduled for July 3 at 10:00 a.m.
The investigation into Zhang's kidnapping is ongoing. We have included the full affidavit provided by the FBI below:
