Woman’s body found at Funks Grove; Sheriff sees no apparent link to missing Illini scholar

Posted on July 3, 2017
Sugar Creek Nature Center
The Sugar Creek Nature Center is considered a crime scene as police investigate a body found on Sunday evening. (Photo by Patti Penn/WJBC)

By Howard Packowitz,

FUNKS GROVE – Two people walking a nature trail at Funks Grove in rural McLean found a woman’s body early Sunday evening, but McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage said there’s no indication the discovery has anything to do with the disappearance of missing University of Illinois visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.

A news release from the sheriff late Sunday night said the body was that of a middle-aged woman, and that her death is suspicious.

The sheriff’s department, McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis, and Illinois State Police crime scene technicians are investigating.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the case to call Sheriff’s Detective Cory Beverlin at 309-888-5048.

Part of the Sugar Grove Nature Center is considered a crime scene, so the nature center announced on its Facebook page late Sunday night that all of its buildings, trails, Imagination Grove, and Nature Center properties will be closed to the public until dawn on July 5. That includes all property and trails extending to Funks Grove Church and Cemetery.

Zhang, who’s from China, has not been seen since June 9, and the FBI now believes Zhang is dead. Agents arrested U of I student Brendt Christensen on Friday for allegedly kidnapping the woman.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].

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