Missing Scholar Sightings Reported: Accused Kidnapper's Lawyers

URBANA, IL — The new attorneys for a Champaign man accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing a visiting Chinese scholar claim that the missing woman, Yingying Zhang, has been spotted since her disappearance in June, and they need time to investigate reported sightings. Zhang, 26, arrived at the University of Illinois for a yearlong stint as a researcher in April, but vanished June 9. Police and the FBI have repeatedly said they believe Zhang is dead, although her body has not been found.

In a 22-page filing in U.S. District Court in Urbana, suspect Brendt Christensen's attorneys are asking that his trial be delayed until next October as they look into claims that Zhang has been seen. The trial is currently slated to begin Feb. 27, 2018.

The filing claims someone has logged into some accounts owned by Zhang since she went missing, and that the attorneys have learned of “several purported sights of the alleged victim around the country” since June 9, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Christensen, who has been held without bond since his arrest on June 30, is charged with lying to FBI agents who questioned him about Zhang's disappearance. Last month, additional charges were filed against the 28-year-old former PhD student, who is now also charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death. An indictment against Christensen claims Christensen acted "in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner" involving torture and extreme physical abuse, alleging that there was substantial planning and premeditation in the kidnapping.

Prosecutors have agreed to delay the trial only if U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions decides to seek the death penalty in the case, according to the Tribune.

Zhang was on her way to sign a lease at an apartment building when she vanished, police have said. According to officials, she texted the apartment building manager saying she was running 10 minutes late and would arrive at around 2:10 p.m. Surveillance footage from around 2 p.m. that day showed her getting into a black, four-door Saturn Astra, which then drove away. She has not been seen since, according to police. A text message sent by the apartment manager to Zhang at 2:38 p.m. June 9 went unanswered.

Authorities investigating 18 similar Saturn Astras registered in Champaign County located one of those vehicles in a Champaign apartment parking lot on June 12. The owner, Christensen, could not initially recall his whereabouts between 2 and 3 p.m. June 9, authorities said. He then told agents he was either sleeping or playing video games at his apartment all day, the complaint states. Like the vehicle shown in the surveillance footage, Christensen's Saturn had a sunroof and cracked front passenger hubcap.

During an interview with FBI agents, Christensen admitted to seeing an Asian female with a backpack like the one Zhang had standing on a corner "appearing distressed" and offering her a ride, according to the complaint filed against him. He told authorities she accepted, using a map on her cellphone to show him where she needed to go, it adds. Christensen told agents he believed he made a wrong turn, causing her to panic, and he let her out of the vehicle in a residential area near where he'd picked her up, according to the complaint.

Authorities said law enforcement executed a search warrant at Christensen's home, finding his cell phone, which showed that in April he visited a forum called "Abduction 101" on the website FetLife, with subthreads "Perfect abduction fantasy" and "planning a kidnapping."

The complaint notes that authorities began conducting surveillance on Christensen on June 16. On June 29, he reportedly was captured on audio recording explaining how he kidnapped Zhang, took her to his apartment and held her against her will.

More from Patch:

• Missing University Of Illinois Scholar's Father: 'Give My Daughter Back'
• Vehicle Used In Missing Scholar's Abduction Found: FBI
• Kidnapping Suspect Attended Vigil For Missing Scholar, Talked About Perfect Victim
• Accused University Of Illinois Kidnapper's Attorneys Withdraw From Case

Photo: Yingying Zhang/University of Illinois Police Department