Murdered Chinese scholar’s remains might be in Danville area landfill

Posted on August 3, 2019
Remains of murdered University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang might be in this Vermilion County landfill. (Photo courtesy: BlueRoom Stream)

By Howard Packowitz

URBANA – Relatives of murdered University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang have been told her body might be in a Vermilion County landfill, according to multiple news media reports.

Her convicted killer, Brendt Christensen, is believed to have disclosed the information as part of an immunity agreement.

There is one landfill in Danville, in Vermilion County, but it’s not clear whether police have already searched the area.

A jury found Christensen guilty in federal court of kidnapping the visiting Chinese scholar from the U-of-I campus two years ago and killing her. Authorities never located her body.

Christensen was given life in prison after the jury could not agree on the death penalty.

The family’s Urbana lawyer called off a Friday news conference to discuss the information so that the family’s Chinese lawyer could also attend.

A memorial service scheduled for Monday in Savoy has also been postponed.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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