Crime Stoppers raises reward to find missing U of I scholar

Posted on July 13, 2017

 

Champaign County Crime Stoppers is raising the reward to find U of I scholar Yingying Zhang.
(Photo courtesy of University of Illinois)

 

By Howard Packowitz

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign County Crime Stoppers will announce Friday they are boosting the reward for information that would lead authorities to the whereabouts of missing University of Illinois visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.

The reward will be raised to $50,000, according to a blog post on the U of I’s public affairs website.

The university said the reward money comes from community donations to an online fundraising effort, and comes at the request of Zhang’s family.

Family members and Crime Stoppers representatives are expected to make statements at a news conference.

Zhang hasn’t been seen since June 9. A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted Champaign resident Brendt Christensen for her kidnapping.

The FBI believes Zhang is dead, but authorities have not found her body.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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