1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:03,693 --> 00:00:06,558 ♪♪ 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 4 00:00:18,328 --> 00:00:22,332 ♪♪ 5 00:00:29,167 --> 00:00:33,136 [woman speaking Mandarin] 6 00:01:20,770 --> 00:01:24,774 ♪♪ 7 00:02:00,568 --> 00:02:02,984 [all speaking Mandarin] 8 00:02:22,763 --> 00:02:26,629 ♪♪ 9 00:02:33,394 --> 00:02:35,638 [woman] "April 30, 2017. 10 00:02:37,571 --> 00:02:40,332 I've been in Illinois for a week. 11 00:02:40,367 --> 00:02:43,818 "University of Illinois is very beautiful, 12 00:02:43,853 --> 00:02:46,476 "kind of like Sun Yat-sen University. 13 00:02:46,511 --> 00:02:50,653 "I fell in love with it at first glance. 14 00:02:50,687 --> 00:02:54,519 "However, I'm feeling a little anxious. 15 00:02:59,627 --> 00:03:01,422 "It's the first time 16 00:03:01,457 --> 00:03:03,217 "I've lived in an apartment alone. 17 00:03:03,252 --> 00:03:06,703 "It's the first time I've lived independently. 18 00:03:06,738 --> 00:03:09,672 "I feel a little bit lonely, 19 00:03:09,706 --> 00:03:12,122 "but I still want to try. 20 00:03:12,157 --> 00:03:15,988 "Pursuing a PhD requires a lot of hard work. 21 00:03:16,023 --> 00:03:18,336 "The rule is simple: 22 00:03:18,370 --> 00:03:21,339 Live a simple life, be effective." 23 00:03:26,827 --> 00:03:28,484 [thunder rumbling] 24 00:03:28,518 --> 00:03:30,900 "May 4, 2017. 25 00:03:30,934 --> 00:03:33,730 "Champaign. Heavy rain. 26 00:03:33,765 --> 00:03:37,389 "I eat my words. 27 00:03:37,424 --> 00:03:39,978 "I broke my promise to myself. 28 00:03:40,012 --> 00:03:43,188 "I missed a class yesterday. 29 00:03:43,223 --> 00:03:45,949 "I'm very afraid of this loneliness. 30 00:03:45,984 --> 00:03:48,849 "If I cannot do what I have planned every day, 31 00:03:48,883 --> 00:03:52,335 "I won't be able to reach the final goal. 32 00:03:52,370 --> 00:03:57,167 So please be calm and learn what you need to learn. 33 00:03:57,202 --> 00:03:58,514 "To study, 34 00:03:58,548 --> 00:04:01,517 stay foolish, stay hungry." 35 00:04:03,277 --> 00:04:05,900 [birds chirping] 36 00:04:05,935 --> 00:04:08,109 "May 10, 2017. 37 00:04:09,628 --> 00:04:12,907 "This is the first day of our trip to Nebraska. 38 00:04:12,942 --> 00:04:15,324 The first time for field work. 39 00:04:15,358 --> 00:04:19,328 "My colleague Guofang and I departed at 3:00 p.m. 40 00:04:19,362 --> 00:04:22,676 "The wide scenery, crop field at the highway 41 00:04:22,710 --> 00:04:24,850 "are quite attractive to me. 42 00:04:24,885 --> 00:04:30,166 "The color of nature, blue sky, green grass, white houses, 43 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,237 "naturally amazing. 44 00:04:32,272 --> 00:04:36,103 "By the way, the road was also special. 45 00:04:36,137 --> 00:04:38,278 "Few cars, and few people, 46 00:04:38,312 --> 00:04:40,383 "only us. 47 00:04:40,418 --> 00:04:43,006 "I have so many similarities with Guofang. 48 00:04:43,041 --> 00:04:44,698 "We like forests. 49 00:04:44,732 --> 00:04:45,871 "We love freedom. 50 00:04:45,906 --> 00:04:47,494 "We are idealists. 51 00:04:47,528 --> 00:04:49,806 "We face difficulties head on. 52 00:04:49,841 --> 00:04:53,154 "The difference is that I may compromise. 53 00:04:53,189 --> 00:04:55,398 I may want to be famous." 54 00:04:57,607 --> 00:04:59,954 "June 1, 2017. 55 00:04:59,989 --> 00:05:04,649 "Speaking English, morning reading, 20 minutes. 56 00:05:04,683 --> 00:05:08,480 "Jogging, 30 minutes, 6:00 to 6:30. 57 00:05:08,515 --> 00:05:10,827 "Study, 40 minutes. 58 00:05:10,862 --> 00:05:14,141 "Breakfast, 20 minutes. 59 00:05:14,175 --> 00:05:15,832 March on!" 60 00:05:19,629 --> 00:05:22,977 This is part of the diary kept by Yingying Zhang 61 00:05:23,012 --> 00:05:26,395 during her first six weeks in the U.S. 62 00:05:26,429 --> 00:05:28,535 Her last communication that summer 63 00:05:28,569 --> 00:05:32,711 was a text message exchange with an apartment rental manager. 64 00:05:51,074 --> 00:05:55,044 ♪♪ 65 00:06:04,018 --> 00:06:08,022 ♪♪ 66 00:06:24,349 --> 00:06:27,387 [speaking Mandarin] 67 00:06:58,728 --> 00:07:00,765 [woman speaking Mandarin] 68 00:07:23,857 --> 00:07:27,205 [bell ringing] 69 00:08:02,067 --> 00:08:04,345 [reporter] Police in downstate Urbana-Champaign 70 00:08:04,380 --> 00:08:05,692 are asking for help to find 71 00:08:05,726 --> 00:08:08,108 a visiting scholar from China who disappeared from 72 00:08:08,142 --> 00:08:10,559 the University of Illinois campus last Friday. 73 00:08:10,593 --> 00:08:13,078 [reporter #2] 26-year-old Yingying Zhang has been visiting 74 00:08:13,113 --> 00:08:14,701 one of the school's science departments 75 00:08:14,735 --> 00:08:17,669 for the last month and was staying in university housing. 76 00:08:17,704 --> 00:08:19,671 [reporter #3 speaking Mandarin] 77 00:08:21,397 --> 00:08:23,572 [reporter #4 speaking Mandarin] 78 00:08:28,922 --> 00:08:30,889 [reporter #5] Zhang's father, aunt, and boyfriend 79 00:08:30,924 --> 00:08:32,822 arrived in Chicago this morning. 80 00:08:32,857 --> 00:08:34,824 Mr. Zhang had never left China. 81 00:08:34,859 --> 00:08:37,171 This is the first time he travels to the U.S. 82 00:08:37,206 --> 00:08:39,242 and says he does not plan to leave 83 00:08:39,277 --> 00:08:40,761 until he finds his daughter. 84 00:08:40,796 --> 00:08:42,591 [woman] What's been completely impressive 85 00:08:42,625 --> 00:08:44,109 is how the students have activated 86 00:08:44,144 --> 00:08:45,732 in support of Yingying and her family, 87 00:08:45,766 --> 00:08:48,389 and the police are doing an extraordinary job. 88 00:08:48,424 --> 00:08:51,461 We fully expect her return to campus. 89 00:08:51,496 --> 00:08:54,326 At this point, it's only a matter of when. 90 00:09:08,030 --> 00:09:11,033 [speaking Mandarin] 91 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:54,455 [Jenny] Yingying's mother 92 00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:57,389 was too distraught and sick to travel. 93 00:09:57,424 --> 00:09:59,840 Instead, her sister accompanied 94 00:09:59,875 --> 00:10:02,015 Yingying's father and boyfriend. 95 00:10:26,073 --> 00:10:29,663 Yingying and I went to the same university in China. 96 00:10:29,698 --> 00:10:31,182 When she went missing, 97 00:10:31,216 --> 00:10:33,667 I was a journalism student in Illinois. 98 00:10:35,289 --> 00:10:39,431 After Yingying's family arrived, I joined the volunteers 99 00:10:39,466 --> 00:10:42,434 and sometimes helped the family with translation. 100 00:10:54,067 --> 00:10:58,381 I also started documenting the places Yingying had been to, 101 00:10:58,416 --> 00:11:00,832 and I hope one day this footage 102 00:11:00,867 --> 00:11:02,972 would help them in some way. 103 00:11:45,532 --> 00:11:48,777 During Yingying's short stay in the U.S., 104 00:11:48,811 --> 00:11:51,745 her colleagues Guofang and Yan 105 00:11:51,780 --> 00:11:54,437 are the two people who know her most. 106 00:11:54,472 --> 00:11:58,269 They brought us to the cornfield where Yingying used to work. 107 00:12:51,909 --> 00:12:54,877 ♪♪ 108 00:12:59,433 --> 00:13:02,505 [Ronggao speaking Mandarin] 109 00:13:14,241 --> 00:13:16,796 [Jenny, reading] "Today was like a dream. 110 00:13:16,830 --> 00:13:21,386 "The wind is like an excited crazy lady disturbing my brain. 111 00:13:21,421 --> 00:13:24,113 "I feel dizzy. 112 00:13:24,148 --> 00:13:26,806 "Standing on the five-meter-tall tower, 113 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,809 "I held in my hands things that are new to me. 114 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:33,985 "Field work costs a lot of energy 115 00:13:34,020 --> 00:13:36,298 "and the results come slow. 116 00:13:36,332 --> 00:13:39,888 "However, as someone learning ecology, 117 00:13:39,922 --> 00:13:42,062 "how can I give up? 118 00:13:42,097 --> 00:13:45,272 "Learn from Guofang as much as possible. 119 00:13:45,307 --> 00:13:47,447 "No matter how tired you are, 120 00:13:47,481 --> 00:13:49,932 "turn the result into papers. 121 00:13:49,967 --> 00:13:52,107 Write, write, write." 122 00:13:52,141 --> 00:13:54,695 ♪♪ 123 00:14:56,412 --> 00:14:58,380 [man] We went to her apartment, 124 00:14:58,414 --> 00:15:01,383 and we entered her apartment to make sure-- 125 00:15:01,417 --> 00:15:03,350 maybe there was a medical emergency. 126 00:15:03,385 --> 00:15:05,490 I checked the airport. 127 00:15:05,525 --> 00:15:07,009 I contacted hospitals. 128 00:15:07,044 --> 00:15:08,700 I went out to the jail. 129 00:15:08,735 --> 00:15:10,564 We couldn't locate her anywhere. 130 00:15:12,773 --> 00:15:15,362 We knew that she was supposed to go to an apartment complex 131 00:15:15,397 --> 00:15:16,777 to sign a lease, 132 00:15:16,812 --> 00:15:19,919 and she would have needed to take a bus. 133 00:15:21,955 --> 00:15:24,199 So we were able to locate the security video 134 00:15:24,233 --> 00:15:26,718 of her getting on the bus near where she lived. 135 00:15:28,893 --> 00:15:30,688 That was a big step in the case. 136 00:15:34,726 --> 00:15:37,281 She got off that bus, 137 00:15:37,315 --> 00:15:39,455 and she was supposed to get on 138 00:15:39,490 --> 00:15:42,113 another bus which was gonna take her to sign the lease. 139 00:15:43,632 --> 00:15:45,599 And she missed her bus. 140 00:15:45,634 --> 00:15:49,638 ♪♪ 141 00:15:58,888 --> 00:16:01,961 We have over 2,000 cameras on campus. 142 00:16:01,995 --> 00:16:05,585 And it was a telecommunicator working the midnight shift 143 00:16:05,619 --> 00:16:06,896 who noticed what he believed 144 00:16:06,931 --> 00:16:08,898 was her standing near a bus stop. 145 00:16:38,549 --> 00:16:40,033 At that point, 146 00:16:40,068 --> 00:16:42,104 it quickly went from a missing person 147 00:16:42,139 --> 00:16:44,589 to a possible kidnapping. 148 00:16:44,624 --> 00:16:46,591 [reporter] The search for a missing scholar 149 00:16:46,626 --> 00:16:47,903 from the University of Illinois 150 00:16:47,937 --> 00:16:50,009 is now expanding into Indiana. 151 00:16:50,043 --> 00:16:52,149 [reporter #2] The FBI is leading the investigation, 152 00:16:52,183 --> 00:16:53,840 putting billboards like this one 153 00:16:53,874 --> 00:16:55,842 that's near the Indiana state fairgrounds 154 00:16:55,876 --> 00:16:58,534 in places like Chicago, St. Louis, and Iowa. 155 00:16:58,569 --> 00:17:00,398 [reporter #3] The FBI is also offering 156 00:17:00,433 --> 00:17:02,159 a $10,000 reward 157 00:17:02,193 --> 00:17:04,195 for anyone with information. 158 00:17:04,230 --> 00:17:06,335 [reporter #4] Police officers we talked with say they are staying late 159 00:17:06,370 --> 00:17:08,958 and coming in even on their days off because they know 160 00:17:08,993 --> 00:17:10,477 that every minute counts 161 00:17:10,512 --> 00:17:12,859 in a situation like they're dealing with now. 162 00:17:18,244 --> 00:17:20,522 [Liqin speaking Mandarin] 163 00:17:50,310 --> 00:17:54,142 ♪♪ 164 00:17:54,176 --> 00:17:58,974 [Jenny] It was shocking to see Yingying get into that car by herself. 165 00:17:59,008 --> 00:18:02,805 But I immediately recalled a similar experience I had 166 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,808 within the first month of my arrival in the U.S. 167 00:18:08,466 --> 00:18:12,712 Just like Yingying, I was lonely and homesick. 168 00:18:12,746 --> 00:18:16,543 I had a hard time adapting to the language and culture. 169 00:18:16,578 --> 00:18:19,374 I felt lost in this foreign country. 170 00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:25,380 Late one night, after covering a police community meeting 171 00:18:25,414 --> 00:18:27,002 for a journalism class, 172 00:18:27,036 --> 00:18:30,005 I was waiting at a bus stop alone. 173 00:18:30,039 --> 00:18:32,870 A guy who I had seen at a meeting 174 00:18:32,904 --> 00:18:35,804 and who had seemed to be associated with the police 175 00:18:35,838 --> 00:18:39,394 approached me and offered me a ride. 176 00:18:39,428 --> 00:18:41,085 Afraid of waiting in the dark 177 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:44,951 and trusting that he was an authority figure, 178 00:18:44,985 --> 00:18:48,092 I did something I wouldn't normally do. 179 00:18:48,127 --> 00:18:49,783 I got into his car. 180 00:18:52,476 --> 00:18:55,410 Fortunately, I arrived home safely. 181 00:18:55,444 --> 00:18:59,448 ♪♪ 182 00:19:05,627 --> 00:19:08,940 [woman] She has just been here for six weeks. 183 00:19:08,975 --> 00:19:11,426 I guess she may have the impression 184 00:19:11,460 --> 00:19:14,843 that all Americans are just good. 185 00:19:14,877 --> 00:19:16,500 I mean, she doesn't know the social norm. 186 00:19:16,534 --> 00:19:19,330 Maybe she thinks they are just trying to be friendly, 187 00:19:19,365 --> 00:19:20,952 just trying to help her. 188 00:19:20,987 --> 00:19:23,921 - She didn't know a lot about the culture. 189 00:19:23,955 --> 00:19:25,543 She didn't notice maybe 190 00:19:25,578 --> 00:19:27,718 that person is a dangerous person. 191 00:19:27,752 --> 00:19:29,237 And at that time, 192 00:19:29,271 --> 00:19:30,755 she doesn't want to be late. 193 00:19:30,790 --> 00:19:33,241 That's why I think she just entering the car 194 00:19:33,275 --> 00:19:36,692 very quickly without hesitation. 195 00:19:36,727 --> 00:19:39,454 [indistinct chatter] 196 00:19:39,488 --> 00:19:41,835 ♪♪ 197 00:19:41,870 --> 00:19:45,011 [man] They found her getting into a car, 198 00:19:45,045 --> 00:19:48,497 but since that, there's no more information. 199 00:19:48,532 --> 00:19:52,052 I'm just very, very worried about her safety. 200 00:19:52,087 --> 00:19:54,848 - We are now more of wanting to help, 201 00:19:54,883 --> 00:19:57,403 wanting to resolve the case 202 00:19:57,437 --> 00:20:01,959 instead of spending our time and our effort in being worried. 203 00:20:01,993 --> 00:20:04,927 [all chanting] Let's find Yingying. 204 00:20:04,962 --> 00:20:07,309 Let's find Yingying... 205 00:20:07,344 --> 00:20:11,244 [reporter] There're 360,000 Chinese students in the U.S., 206 00:20:11,279 --> 00:20:13,419 and because they pay full tuition and cost, 207 00:20:13,453 --> 00:20:16,732 major universities have become dependent on those dollars. 208 00:20:16,767 --> 00:20:18,872 [reporter #2] As much as $14 billion 209 00:20:18,907 --> 00:20:20,219 in economic activity. 210 00:20:20,253 --> 00:20:22,221 [reporter #3 speaking Mandarin] 211 00:20:24,706 --> 00:20:26,639 [reporter #4 speaking Mandarin] 212 00:20:30,677 --> 00:20:32,403 [woman] No, I don't feel safe. 213 00:20:32,438 --> 00:20:36,959 If I walk out on the street, will this also happen to me? 214 00:20:36,994 --> 00:20:39,893 So I actually, I stopped going out. 215 00:20:39,928 --> 00:20:43,690 - My parents just tell me to don't go out at late 216 00:20:43,725 --> 00:20:46,037 or just don't go out at all. 217 00:20:46,072 --> 00:20:47,694 [all chanting] Let's find Yingying! 218 00:20:47,729 --> 00:20:49,524 Let's find Yingying! 219 00:20:49,558 --> 00:20:51,284 Let's find Yingying! 220 00:20:51,319 --> 00:20:54,218 [Kimberlee] On behalf of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 221 00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:57,117 I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you 222 00:20:57,152 --> 00:20:58,809 for joining us this evening 223 00:20:58,843 --> 00:21:00,569 in a march of hope in honor of 224 00:21:00,604 --> 00:21:03,192 our colleague Yingying. 225 00:21:03,227 --> 00:21:05,988 [Xiaolin] Yingying still needs your help. 226 00:21:06,023 --> 00:21:09,820 She's just waiting for us every minute and every second. 227 00:21:09,854 --> 00:21:13,513 I have no energy or time 228 00:21:13,548 --> 00:21:17,034 to be frustrated or angry. 229 00:21:17,068 --> 00:21:19,070 There's only one thought in my mind, 230 00:21:19,105 --> 00:21:21,383 and that is to try everything to find her. 231 00:21:21,418 --> 00:21:23,730 [applause] 232 00:21:25,422 --> 00:21:26,837 [strumming guitar] Yingying loves music. 233 00:21:26,871 --> 00:21:30,081 And I wrote many songs for her, 234 00:21:30,116 --> 00:21:33,153 and this song is her favorite. 235 00:21:33,188 --> 00:21:36,122 The name of the song is "To Dream Like Child." 236 00:21:36,156 --> 00:21:37,813 [speaking Mandarin] 237 00:21:37,848 --> 00:21:40,851 ♪♪ 238 00:22:08,361 --> 00:22:10,846 [singing fades] 239 00:22:17,439 --> 00:22:21,029 [Jenny, reading] "My dear Xiaolin came to visit me in Shenzhen. 240 00:22:21,063 --> 00:22:23,065 "I feel weird sometimes 241 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:26,724 "because it feels like we just started dating. 242 00:22:26,759 --> 00:22:30,625 "The way you spoil me and the way you look at me, 243 00:22:30,659 --> 00:22:34,007 "tell me how much you adore me. 244 00:22:34,042 --> 00:22:37,010 "And I like you more each passing day. 245 00:22:37,045 --> 00:22:40,600 "You're fine with me being whatever I want. 246 00:22:40,635 --> 00:22:45,950 "And I know you would tolerate my flaws, and even allow them. 247 00:22:45,985 --> 00:22:48,263 "I have the strength to grow with you 248 00:22:48,297 --> 00:22:51,611 "and to make your edges smoother. 249 00:22:51,646 --> 00:22:54,269 "In dreams, we hold hand in hand 250 00:22:54,303 --> 00:22:56,927 to get through this journey together." 251 00:22:56,961 --> 00:23:00,275 ♪♪ 252 00:23:07,765 --> 00:23:11,182 [reporter] Brendt Christensen, a former physics graduate student, 253 00:23:11,217 --> 00:23:12,874 arrested after the 26-year-old 254 00:23:12,908 --> 00:23:15,394 visiting Chinese scholar vanished. 255 00:23:15,428 --> 00:23:19,052 She was last seen getting into Christensen's car at a bus stop, 256 00:23:19,087 --> 00:23:21,538 taking a ride from a stranger likely because 257 00:23:21,572 --> 00:23:23,402 she was running late for an appointment... 258 00:23:25,404 --> 00:23:28,303 [man] I had a list of all of the Saturn Astras 259 00:23:28,337 --> 00:23:30,788 that were registered to Champaign County, 260 00:23:30,823 --> 00:23:32,790 as well as the surrounding areas. 261 00:23:32,825 --> 00:23:38,451 And we analyzed as much video as we could find to try to 262 00:23:38,486 --> 00:23:42,421 identify a license plate, to try to get something very specific 263 00:23:42,455 --> 00:23:46,252 that we could zero in on a particular Saturn Astra. 264 00:23:46,286 --> 00:23:49,117 That led to a discovery 265 00:23:49,151 --> 00:23:53,811 that the front passenger hub cap was actually broken. 266 00:23:53,846 --> 00:23:57,850 Agents discovered that a black Saturn Astra registered 267 00:23:57,884 --> 00:24:01,681 to Brendt Christensen had that same cracked hub cap. 268 00:24:03,131 --> 00:24:06,617 We go to Christensen's house with that search warrant 269 00:24:06,652 --> 00:24:09,413 to seize that vehicle and try to talk to him. 270 00:24:09,448 --> 00:24:12,381 We asked him about his whereabouts 271 00:24:12,416 --> 00:24:16,075 on the day of June 9, 2017. 272 00:24:24,635 --> 00:24:25,843 - Is it just between the time period 273 00:24:25,878 --> 00:24:27,500 he's asking about, or just literally all day? 274 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,608 You didn't go cruise the campus or anything? 275 00:24:39,167 --> 00:24:40,444 Did you go out to eat or anything? 276 00:24:40,479 --> 00:24:42,101 Go any places... 277 00:24:50,592 --> 00:24:54,458 Look, you know that we didn't bring you all the way up here 278 00:24:54,493 --> 00:24:58,289 to talk about video games and what you got for lunch that day. 279 00:24:59,981 --> 00:25:01,948 Why do you think that we brought you up here? 280 00:25:13,995 --> 00:25:17,757 So who was driving that car other than you on Friday night? 281 00:25:23,452 --> 00:25:27,422 - I've got her getting into your car. 282 00:25:27,456 --> 00:25:29,113 I need to know why. 283 00:25:36,155 --> 00:25:41,885 - You're telling me that I didn't see you driving your car, 284 00:25:41,919 --> 00:25:45,889 driving down Wright Street and turning on University, 285 00:25:45,923 --> 00:25:49,893 and heading south, and then you see her standing on that corner 286 00:25:49,927 --> 00:25:51,204 in that shade tree, didn't you? 287 00:25:51,239 --> 00:25:52,689 That's where you first saw her. 288 00:26:02,215 --> 00:26:04,528 I know that you picked her up. 289 00:26:04,563 --> 00:26:06,979 I know you did. 290 00:26:18,887 --> 00:26:20,406 Okay. 291 00:26:29,035 --> 00:26:30,692 Did you? 292 00:26:33,074 --> 00:26:34,869 Do you remember the girl's name that you picked up? 293 00:26:40,426 --> 00:26:42,877 Tell us about what happened. What time of the day was that? 294 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:47,226 Okay. 295 00:26:52,403 --> 00:26:53,888 Okay. 296 00:27:06,417 --> 00:27:08,074 [Anthony] After that interview, 297 00:27:08,109 --> 00:27:10,559 he was our primary suspect. 298 00:27:10,594 --> 00:27:14,874 Ultimately, forensic evidence found in Christensen's apartment 299 00:27:14,909 --> 00:27:18,360 and numerous covert recordings conducted over 300 00:27:18,395 --> 00:27:20,052 the next couple of weeks 301 00:27:20,086 --> 00:27:24,401 gave us the evidence we needed to arrest Christensen. 302 00:27:24,435 --> 00:27:28,301 [reporter] Brendt Christensen, a 27-year-old Champaign man 303 00:27:28,336 --> 00:27:30,510 and former physics PhD candidate, 304 00:27:30,545 --> 00:27:31,857 had been under surveillance 305 00:27:31,891 --> 00:27:34,169 for nearly two weeks before his arrest. 306 00:27:34,204 --> 00:27:35,964 [reporter #2] Christensen was recorded explaining 307 00:27:35,999 --> 00:27:39,174 how he kidnapped Yingying Zhang, holding her at his apartment. 308 00:27:39,209 --> 00:27:42,522 [reporter #3] Authorities didn't reveal how these recordings were obtained. 309 00:27:42,557 --> 00:27:45,491 [reporter #4] Christensen appearing at a rally for his alleged victim 310 00:27:45,525 --> 00:27:47,355 just one day before his arrest. 311 00:27:47,389 --> 00:27:49,495 On his phone, investigators say they found 312 00:27:49,529 --> 00:27:52,291 visits to forums on a fetish website, 313 00:27:52,325 --> 00:27:54,431 including one called Abduction 101 314 00:27:54,465 --> 00:27:56,088 and Planning a Kidnapping. 315 00:27:56,122 --> 00:27:58,746 [reporter #3] Christensen graduated in May with a Master's degree. 316 00:27:58,780 --> 00:28:00,437 [man] He was on the excellent teaching list, 317 00:28:00,471 --> 00:28:02,784 so he was well-reviewed by his students. 318 00:28:02,819 --> 00:28:05,269 There were no discipline issues ever reported about him. 319 00:28:05,304 --> 00:28:07,306 Nobody saw this coming. 320 00:28:11,724 --> 00:28:14,037 [all chanting] Justice for Yingying. 321 00:28:14,071 --> 00:28:16,039 Justice for Yingying. 322 00:28:16,073 --> 00:28:18,213 Justice for Yingying. 323 00:28:18,248 --> 00:28:19,974 Justice for Yingying. 324 00:28:20,008 --> 00:28:21,665 [chanting continues in distance] 325 00:28:23,702 --> 00:28:25,462 - They said the crowd was really further that way. 326 00:28:25,496 --> 00:28:27,464 Yeah, I see some. 327 00:28:27,498 --> 00:28:28,983 Can you walk quickly? 328 00:28:29,017 --> 00:28:30,812 [indistinct chatter] 329 00:29:36,222 --> 00:29:37,706 [Xiaolin speaking Mandarin] 330 00:30:53,955 --> 00:30:55,923 [insects chirping] 331 00:32:25,771 --> 00:32:27,807 - I came prepared. I-I have waders too, 332 00:32:27,842 --> 00:32:29,982 but I think this is our best bet. 333 00:32:30,017 --> 00:32:31,846 So let's go this way. 334 00:32:48,173 --> 00:32:51,970 I need you to stand down there and think like the suspect. 335 00:32:52,004 --> 00:32:55,180 And I want you to think, where could I hide 336 00:32:55,214 --> 00:32:57,182 that nobody would ever find? 337 00:32:58,804 --> 00:33:00,702 - No. - Nothing? 338 00:33:00,737 --> 00:33:02,808 [Christine] Look in front of you. 339 00:33:15,441 --> 00:33:17,478 - [Xiaolin] Down here. - [man] Down here? 340 00:33:17,512 --> 00:33:19,342 [indistinct chatter] 341 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:22,552 Yep, hold on... 342 00:33:41,502 --> 00:33:43,469 [Xiaolin speaking Mandarin] 343 00:34:03,075 --> 00:34:06,044 ♪♪ 344 00:34:24,510 --> 00:34:26,098 [reporters clamoring] [cameras clicking] 345 00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:28,825 - I'm one of the attorneys for Brendt Christensen, 346 00:34:28,859 --> 00:34:30,999 who this afternoon pleaded not guilty 347 00:34:31,034 --> 00:34:33,381 in the central district of Illinois here in Urbana 348 00:34:33,416 --> 00:34:35,590 to the crime of kidnapping. 349 00:34:35,625 --> 00:34:37,937 He's demanded a jury trial 350 00:34:37,972 --> 00:34:41,355 and he intends to persist in his plea of not guilty. 351 00:34:41,389 --> 00:34:42,701 [reporter] Are you saying that there will not be 352 00:34:42,735 --> 00:34:44,047 a plea deal in your mind at any time? 353 00:34:44,082 --> 00:34:45,531 Because I know she has not been found yet either. 354 00:34:45,566 --> 00:34:47,188 - Well, I'm not gonna comment on how this case ends. 355 00:34:47,223 --> 00:34:48,534 See, that's part of the problem, 356 00:34:48,569 --> 00:34:49,880 We start jumping to conclusions 357 00:34:49,915 --> 00:34:51,572 about how a case like this is gonna end, 358 00:34:51,606 --> 00:34:54,368 and I think this case could go on for a year or more. 359 00:34:54,402 --> 00:34:56,715 He is presumed to be innocent, 360 00:34:56,749 --> 00:34:59,338 and that presumption stays with him until the very end. 361 00:34:59,373 --> 00:35:02,514 ♪♪ 362 00:35:05,862 --> 00:35:07,864 [thunderclap] 363 00:35:09,693 --> 00:35:12,731 ♪♪ 364 00:35:23,466 --> 00:35:25,709 [Jenny, reading] "Life. 365 00:35:27,297 --> 00:35:31,612 "Today, I went to apply for a social security number. 366 00:35:31,646 --> 00:35:35,719 "After exiting the school gate, I could hardly see anyone. 367 00:35:35,754 --> 00:35:38,377 "I felt a little afraid. 368 00:35:38,412 --> 00:35:40,759 "The wind was so hard, 369 00:35:40,793 --> 00:35:43,762 "my umbrella couldn't keep out the rain. 370 00:35:43,796 --> 00:35:46,868 "My glasses were covered with rain drops. 371 00:35:46,903 --> 00:35:50,872 "My hair was dancing frenziedly with the wind. 372 00:35:50,907 --> 00:35:54,704 "I am alone in this foreign country. 373 00:35:54,738 --> 00:35:58,190 "There are not many people like me on the road. 374 00:35:58,225 --> 00:36:01,331 "Cars were passing by, and I was thinking 375 00:36:01,366 --> 00:36:04,265 "it must be very warm inside the car. 376 00:36:04,300 --> 00:36:08,407 "There's nobody to ask for directions! 377 00:36:08,442 --> 00:36:12,446 "I always put my faith in people to help find the way. 378 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:17,451 "It turns out that's only true in China. 379 00:36:17,485 --> 00:36:21,282 "I went into a laundry, feeling warm. 380 00:36:21,317 --> 00:36:24,665 "A kind elderly black lady asked me with concern, 381 00:36:24,699 --> 00:36:26,701 "'Do you need help?' 382 00:36:26,736 --> 00:36:28,220 "'Yes.' 383 00:36:28,255 --> 00:36:30,740 "She went outside to show me the way, 384 00:36:30,774 --> 00:36:33,018 "and to make sure I could find it. 385 00:36:33,052 --> 00:36:36,366 "There is true love in the world. 386 00:36:36,401 --> 00:36:38,196 "'Thanks so much!' 387 00:36:38,230 --> 00:36:41,820 "'You're welcome baby, no worries baby!' 388 00:36:41,854 --> 00:36:45,479 "My god, she was so nice. 389 00:36:45,513 --> 00:36:47,791 I'm still a baby!" 390 00:36:47,826 --> 00:36:51,657 ♪♪ 391 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:08,398 [Jenny] Two months after Yingying's disappearance, 392 00:37:08,433 --> 00:37:12,091 Yingying's mother is finally well enough to come. 393 00:37:12,126 --> 00:37:15,785 Yingying's brother, who stayed behind to take care of her, 394 00:37:15,819 --> 00:37:17,821 is also arriving today. 395 00:38:03,522 --> 00:38:06,525 ♪♪ 396 00:38:35,968 --> 00:38:38,971 ♪♪ 397 00:39:08,346 --> 00:39:10,831 [speaking Mandarin] 398 00:39:57,049 --> 00:40:01,709 ♪♪ 399 00:40:33,845 --> 00:40:35,847 [barking] 400 00:40:42,681 --> 00:40:44,649 [Xiaolin speaking Mandarin] 401 00:41:16,853 --> 00:41:19,304 [Xiaolin] Today, we still cannot tell 402 00:41:19,338 --> 00:41:23,066 whether she's dead or alive for 100%. 403 00:41:23,101 --> 00:41:25,483 What's more, in this new country, 404 00:41:25,517 --> 00:41:29,797 we're not familiar with the law, custom, and culture, 405 00:41:29,832 --> 00:41:32,593 coupled with language barriers, 406 00:41:32,628 --> 00:41:36,701 which makes it hard-going for us on every step. 407 00:41:36,735 --> 00:41:39,289 At present, we still do not know much 408 00:41:39,324 --> 00:41:43,328 about the investigation because the way the FBI works. 409 00:41:43,362 --> 00:41:45,675 We totally respect their way, 410 00:41:45,710 --> 00:41:48,747 but for us, this journey is too long. 411 00:41:48,782 --> 00:41:51,543 I'm here and proud to tell you again, 412 00:41:51,578 --> 00:41:54,857 we will not give up until we find her. 413 00:41:54,891 --> 00:41:57,515 This is not only the Chinese culture and tradition, 414 00:41:57,549 --> 00:42:00,863 but also Yingying's desire to be with us. 415 00:42:02,623 --> 00:42:04,418 And this may be 416 00:42:04,452 --> 00:42:08,767 the last desire we can fulfill for her. 417 00:42:08,802 --> 00:42:11,252 [man] We work with the FBI, 418 00:42:11,287 --> 00:42:13,220 the university police, 419 00:42:13,254 --> 00:42:16,292 to make this replica of the diary she kept. 420 00:42:16,326 --> 00:42:17,983 - Here's a sentence 421 00:42:18,018 --> 00:42:20,676 in the last page and the last line. 422 00:42:22,367 --> 00:42:25,819 "Life is too short to be ordinary." 423 00:42:25,853 --> 00:42:27,545 [Lifeng sobbing] 424 00:42:39,660 --> 00:42:42,629 ♪♪ 425 00:43:16,283 --> 00:43:20,287 ♪♪ 426 00:44:03,986 --> 00:44:06,920 [metal scraping] [chickens clucking] 427 00:45:44,224 --> 00:45:46,571 [Jenny] I don't know how to comfort Yingying's mother 428 00:45:46,605 --> 00:45:48,435 when she talks about her daughter. 429 00:45:50,264 --> 00:45:53,785 The trial has been delayed for over a year, 430 00:45:53,820 --> 00:45:56,512 and there's no breakthrough about where Yingying is. 431 00:45:58,031 --> 00:45:59,687 Worrying about her health, 432 00:45:59,722 --> 00:46:04,037 the rest of the family hasn't told her much about the case. 433 00:46:04,071 --> 00:46:08,386 She doesn't know English and she can't read Chinese. 434 00:46:08,420 --> 00:46:12,528 Sometimes, she would ask me whether Yingying is still alive. 435 00:46:12,562 --> 00:46:15,565 I would say I didn't know. 436 00:46:17,050 --> 00:46:21,226 ♪♪ 437 00:47:14,003 --> 00:47:15,660 [shattered glass clinking] 438 00:48:31,149 --> 00:48:36,154 ♪♪ 439 00:49:24,582 --> 00:49:28,827 ♪♪ 440 00:49:30,829 --> 00:49:33,591 Spending time with Yingying's parents, 441 00:49:33,625 --> 00:49:36,594 I think about my parents a lot. 442 00:49:36,628 --> 00:49:39,769 Think about whether it's worth it to them, 443 00:49:39,804 --> 00:49:42,358 the financial and emotional sacrifice 444 00:49:42,393 --> 00:49:45,051 to send me abroad. 445 00:49:48,571 --> 00:49:50,677 Yingying's disappearance is a huge story in China, 446 00:49:50,711 --> 00:49:54,853 as hundreds of thousands of families make the same decision, 447 00:49:54,888 --> 00:49:58,133 sending their children to the U.S. at all costs 448 00:49:58,167 --> 00:50:00,480 for life-changing opportunities. 449 00:51:25,806 --> 00:51:27,808 [plates clattering] 450 00:51:49,451 --> 00:51:52,109 ♪♪ 451 00:53:36,661 --> 00:53:39,664 ♪♪ 452 00:53:46,947 --> 00:53:48,915 [Yangyang speaking Mandarin] 453 00:54:58,053 --> 00:55:00,124 [whirring] 454 00:55:03,161 --> 00:55:07,234 ♪♪ 455 00:55:10,962 --> 00:55:13,068 [Jenny, reading] "I called Mom and Dad today. 456 00:55:13,102 --> 00:55:14,966 "They are working hard. 457 00:55:15,001 --> 00:55:17,693 "Dad is a truck driver now. 458 00:55:17,728 --> 00:55:20,040 "It's such hard work. 459 00:55:20,075 --> 00:55:23,699 "I was debating about studying abroad and getting to know 460 00:55:23,734 --> 00:55:26,771 "this unknown world a moment before, 461 00:55:26,806 --> 00:55:30,257 "but the reality is so cruel in front of me. 462 00:55:30,292 --> 00:55:32,570 "What should I choose? 463 00:55:32,605 --> 00:55:35,918 "How could I only think about myself? 464 00:55:35,953 --> 00:55:38,300 "Deep down in my heart, 465 00:55:38,335 --> 00:55:40,751 "having a happy and harmonious family 466 00:55:40,785 --> 00:55:43,409 "is what I want the most. 467 00:55:43,443 --> 00:55:45,134 "I miss my mom. 468 00:55:45,169 --> 00:55:47,136 "I miss my dad. 469 00:55:47,171 --> 00:55:50,623 "I hope they stay healthy forever. 470 00:55:50,657 --> 00:55:54,799 "My dear brother, as long as you're not being lazy, 471 00:55:54,834 --> 00:55:58,113 "I will support whatever you do. 472 00:55:58,147 --> 00:56:01,116 "Remember to buy my brother books! 473 00:56:01,150 --> 00:56:03,601 "So I need to make a lot of money, 474 00:56:03,636 --> 00:56:07,398 "take care of myself, and empower myself, 475 00:56:07,433 --> 00:56:11,368 so that I can take care of my parents and family." 476 00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:35,003 [singing in Mandarin] 477 00:57:53,918 --> 00:57:55,920 [singing fades] 478 00:57:59,027 --> 00:58:00,442 [insects chirping] 479 00:58:40,447 --> 00:58:42,070 [thud] 480 00:58:42,104 --> 00:58:44,106 [wings fluttering] 481 00:58:45,763 --> 00:58:47,109 - Oh! 482 00:59:39,299 --> 00:59:42,302 ♪♪ 483 01:00:13,955 --> 01:00:15,750 [Jenny, reading] "The evening glow parallels 484 01:00:15,784 --> 01:00:18,028 "with a lonely duck to fly. 485 01:00:18,062 --> 01:00:21,652 "The autumn river shares a scenic hue with the sky. 486 01:00:23,274 --> 01:00:25,276 "Fenghuang is so beautiful! 487 01:00:25,311 --> 01:00:28,003 "I'm taking my time for a few days 488 01:00:28,038 --> 01:00:30,005 "to feel this small town. 489 01:00:32,318 --> 01:00:34,976 "This is the Hua Mountain in Xi'an. 490 01:00:35,010 --> 01:00:37,185 "I didn't dare to climb up. 491 01:00:37,219 --> 01:00:41,845 "but I guess the view from top must be beautiful. 492 01:00:41,879 --> 01:00:44,641 "This is my first time being in a northern city. 493 01:00:44,675 --> 01:00:46,850 "Xi'an feels awesome! 494 01:00:46,884 --> 01:00:48,506 "Lots of great food. 495 01:00:48,541 --> 01:00:51,095 "But road here is wide and flat. 496 01:00:51,130 --> 01:00:53,028 "It's too boring! 497 01:00:53,063 --> 01:00:55,617 "I like our road more. 498 01:00:55,652 --> 01:00:58,171 "It has freedom and life! 499 01:00:58,206 --> 01:01:01,865 "How big is the world? 500 01:01:01,899 --> 01:01:05,178 I want to measure the world with my feet." 501 01:01:05,213 --> 01:01:08,216 ♪♪ 502 01:02:11,693 --> 01:02:13,695 [reporter speaking Mandarin] 503 01:02:56,186 --> 01:02:58,395 [cell phone ringing] 504 01:05:08,214 --> 01:05:11,217 ♪♪ 505 01:06:15,247 --> 01:06:19,216 ♪♪ 506 01:08:02,078 --> 01:08:05,702 [indistinct chatter] 507 01:08:12,260 --> 01:08:15,229 [light overlapping chatter] 508 01:08:23,064 --> 01:08:27,068 ♪♪ 509 01:08:50,816 --> 01:08:52,093 [man] Going into the trial, 510 01:08:52,128 --> 01:08:54,371 the prosecution team was confident 511 01:08:54,406 --> 01:08:56,580 that we would convict the defendant 512 01:08:56,615 --> 01:08:58,099 beyond a reasonable doubt 513 01:08:58,134 --> 01:09:01,240 of kidnapping Yingying Zhang resulting in her death. 514 01:09:01,275 --> 01:09:05,348 We did not know what the defense was going to be. 515 01:09:05,382 --> 01:09:07,108 [man] In meetings with the prosecutor 516 01:09:07,143 --> 01:09:09,490 and of course with the family, 517 01:09:09,524 --> 01:09:12,907 we have discussed about every scenario 518 01:09:12,941 --> 01:09:14,667 that could possibly happen. 519 01:09:14,702 --> 01:09:16,186 [reporters clamoring] 520 01:09:16,221 --> 01:09:19,776 But, I was surprised. 521 01:09:19,810 --> 01:09:22,710 In 46 years, I had never seen that before. 522 01:09:22,744 --> 01:09:25,230 - It was an opening line so shocking, 523 01:09:25,264 --> 01:09:26,507 it was almost confusing. 524 01:09:26,576 --> 01:09:30,131 - It isn't often when you get one of those Perry Mason moments 525 01:09:30,166 --> 01:09:31,960 with a shocking revelation in court, 526 01:09:31,995 --> 01:09:33,548 but we got one here today. 527 01:09:33,583 --> 01:09:35,999 - The defense attorney faced the jury head-on 528 01:09:36,033 --> 01:09:38,104 saying his client Brendt Christensen 529 01:09:38,139 --> 01:09:39,623 killed Yingying Zhang, 530 01:09:39,658 --> 01:09:42,419 but that doesn't mean he deserves the death penalty. 531 01:09:42,454 --> 01:09:45,353 And while Christensen's lawyers didn't get into the gruesome 532 01:09:45,388 --> 01:09:48,011 and disturbing details about how he killed her, 533 01:09:48,045 --> 01:09:50,945 federal prosecutors did... [voice fading] 534 01:09:50,979 --> 01:09:53,085 [Jenny] The crime was so horrific 535 01:09:53,119 --> 01:09:56,088 that I could barely sit through the trial. 536 01:09:56,122 --> 01:09:58,780 It was devastating and heartbreaking. 537 01:10:00,644 --> 01:10:03,854 According to the prosecutor, on June 9, 538 01:10:03,889 --> 01:10:07,168 Brendt Christensen was driving around the campus, 539 01:10:07,203 --> 01:10:09,688 looking for a victim. 540 01:10:09,722 --> 01:10:12,173 He found a student in the morning. 541 01:10:12,208 --> 01:10:14,175 She didn't get into his car, 542 01:10:14,210 --> 01:10:16,281 and she reported to the police. 543 01:10:18,144 --> 01:10:19,456 In the afternoon, 544 01:10:19,491 --> 01:10:22,425 he saw Yingying standing by herself at the bus stop. 545 01:10:23,874 --> 01:10:27,153 He pretended to be a police officer. 546 01:10:27,188 --> 01:10:30,226 Yingying got into his car. 547 01:10:30,260 --> 01:10:33,919 He then drove back to his apartment. 548 01:10:33,953 --> 01:10:39,476 In his bedroom, he tortured and sexually assaulted Yingying. 549 01:10:39,511 --> 01:10:41,478 Then he carried her to the bathroom 550 01:10:41,513 --> 01:10:44,826 and put her in the bathtub. 551 01:10:44,861 --> 01:10:49,797 He hit as hard as he could in her head with a baseball bat, 552 01:10:49,831 --> 01:10:52,006 but Yingying didn't die. 553 01:10:53,490 --> 01:10:55,630 Then he got a knife. 554 01:10:55,665 --> 01:10:58,150 Yingying even reached up to grab his hand 555 01:10:58,184 --> 01:11:00,256 as he stabbed in her neck. 556 01:11:02,741 --> 01:11:05,053 He decapitated her. 557 01:11:07,539 --> 01:11:10,542 ♪♪ 558 01:11:14,822 --> 01:11:18,791 I didn't see Yingying's family at the end of the day. 559 01:11:18,826 --> 01:11:20,517 Xiaolin sent me a text message 560 01:11:20,552 --> 01:11:23,348 that they didn't want to be filmed 561 01:11:23,382 --> 01:11:27,283 because they were too emotional and devastated. 562 01:11:39,398 --> 01:11:43,851 [man] The defense very shockingly admitted that 563 01:11:43,885 --> 01:11:46,750 Brendt Christensen had committed the crime. 564 01:11:46,785 --> 01:11:51,307 But for them, it wasn't about the guilt of Brendt Christensen. 565 01:11:51,341 --> 01:11:52,963 It was about the death penalty. 566 01:11:54,310 --> 01:11:56,657 The prosecutors were very meticulous 567 01:11:56,691 --> 01:11:58,969 about presenting evidence. 568 01:11:59,004 --> 01:12:03,422 And one of the most important witnesses was Terra Bullis. 569 01:12:03,457 --> 01:12:05,838 [reporter] At the time of the alleged kidnapping, 570 01:12:05,873 --> 01:12:07,495 Christensen was in an open marriage 571 01:12:07,530 --> 01:12:08,841 with his wife Michelle 572 01:12:08,876 --> 01:12:12,845 and a BDSM relationship with his girlfriend Terra Bullis. 573 01:12:12,880 --> 01:12:14,847 Bullis agreed to secretly record 574 01:12:14,882 --> 01:12:17,022 her conversations with Christensen. 575 01:12:17,056 --> 01:12:20,059 Today, when it was his ex-girlfriend's turn to testify, 576 01:12:20,094 --> 01:12:22,130 he didn't look in her direction, not once. 577 01:12:22,165 --> 01:12:24,374 I think a lot of people in the community 578 01:12:24,409 --> 01:12:26,134 and even a little bit of myself, if I think back to it, 579 01:12:26,169 --> 01:12:28,205 like, really judged her. 580 01:12:28,240 --> 01:12:29,931 Who would go to a memorial walk with him, 581 01:12:29,966 --> 01:12:32,140 because she obviously knows he was somewhat involved. 582 01:12:32,175 --> 01:12:34,419 Then we did know like, soon after 583 01:12:34,453 --> 01:12:36,317 that she was wearing a wire that was recording him. 584 01:12:36,352 --> 01:12:37,767 But still, I never thought back and thought like, 585 01:12:37,801 --> 01:12:39,078 oh, maybe she didn't want to be there. 586 01:12:41,495 --> 01:12:44,946 [Terra] That's been something very difficult for me. 587 01:12:44,981 --> 01:12:49,019 People would say, oh, the FBI forced her, 588 01:12:49,054 --> 01:12:50,538 or they manipulated her, 589 01:12:50,573 --> 01:12:53,955 or maybe they were paying me to do this. 590 01:12:53,990 --> 01:12:56,406 When they said, "Are you-- 591 01:12:56,441 --> 01:12:58,581 "We think somebody close to you 592 01:12:58,615 --> 01:13:01,100 might be involved", 593 01:13:01,135 --> 01:13:05,622 from the very beginning, it was me who said, 594 01:13:05,657 --> 01:13:07,244 is there a way I can help? 595 01:13:07,279 --> 01:13:11,041 And I felt like that the whole time, 596 01:13:11,076 --> 01:13:14,217 even when it was scary. 597 01:13:14,251 --> 01:13:15,908 And it was. 598 01:13:19,222 --> 01:13:21,155 When he asked me to come to the vigil, 599 01:13:21,189 --> 01:13:23,019 it would be about two weeks 600 01:13:23,053 --> 01:13:25,021 since I had started recording him. 601 01:13:27,161 --> 01:13:29,370 So he was over there on that side 602 01:13:29,405 --> 01:13:33,305 when he said to meet him, um, at the top of the stairs. 603 01:13:33,339 --> 01:13:35,307 [feint chanting] Let's find Yingying. 604 01:13:35,341 --> 01:13:37,309 Let's find Yingying. 605 01:13:37,343 --> 01:13:38,966 Let's find Yingying... 606 01:13:39,000 --> 01:13:41,002 [chanting continues] 607 01:13:45,006 --> 01:13:47,975 ♪♪ 608 01:13:56,811 --> 01:14:00,919 It is 6:46, on Thursday, June 29th. 609 01:14:00,953 --> 01:14:05,095 We're at the benefit for the walk. 610 01:14:05,130 --> 01:14:07,684 And Brendt has a thing of alcohol, 611 01:14:07,719 --> 01:14:10,411 and he is drinking while he's here. 612 01:14:10,446 --> 01:14:14,311 When I finally met him on the steps, 613 01:14:14,346 --> 01:14:17,107 he said, "These people are here for me." 614 01:14:17,142 --> 01:14:19,696 [distant chanting] 615 01:14:19,731 --> 01:14:21,526 Let's find Yingying! 616 01:14:21,560 --> 01:14:23,459 Let's find Yingying! 617 01:14:23,493 --> 01:14:25,081 Let's find Yingying! 618 01:14:25,115 --> 01:14:28,118 ♪♪ 619 01:14:48,104 --> 01:14:49,381 [chanting resumes] Let's find Yingying! 620 01:14:49,415 --> 01:14:50,969 Let's find Yingying! 621 01:14:51,003 --> 01:14:52,798 Let's find Yingying! 622 01:14:52,833 --> 01:14:54,628 Let's find Yingying! 623 01:14:54,662 --> 01:14:57,838 [Xiaolin] Yingying still needs your help. 624 01:14:57,872 --> 01:15:01,427 She never gives up as long as there's a glimmer of hope. 625 01:15:01,462 --> 01:15:05,121 So we cannot give up either. 626 01:15:05,155 --> 01:15:07,157 There's only one thought in my mind, 627 01:15:07,192 --> 01:15:09,505 that is to try everything to find her. 628 01:15:11,852 --> 01:15:13,819 [Terra] When we came back here, 629 01:15:13,854 --> 01:15:16,097 he took my phone and opened the notepad. 630 01:15:16,132 --> 01:15:18,444 And he said, 631 01:15:18,479 --> 01:15:21,309 "It was me." 632 01:15:21,344 --> 01:15:23,691 He showed me, 633 01:15:23,726 --> 01:15:25,866 and then he erased it, 634 01:15:25,900 --> 01:15:28,144 and said... 635 01:15:28,178 --> 01:15:31,009 "She was number 13." 636 01:15:31,043 --> 01:15:34,012 And he showed me. 637 01:15:34,046 --> 01:15:35,876 He erased it. 638 01:15:35,910 --> 01:15:39,707 And then he said, "She is gone." 639 01:15:39,742 --> 01:15:43,435 And then he showed me, and then he erased it. 640 01:15:43,469 --> 01:15:45,575 And then he just typed the word "forever". 641 01:15:47,957 --> 01:15:50,269 I had to sit through the whole concert 642 01:15:50,304 --> 01:15:52,824 after having seen that, 643 01:15:52,858 --> 01:15:55,827 knowing that I was sitting next to the person 644 01:15:55,861 --> 01:15:57,932 who was responsible. 645 01:15:57,967 --> 01:16:00,141 And even while we were sitting in the concert, 646 01:16:00,176 --> 01:16:03,282 there were some young ladies in front of us. 647 01:16:03,317 --> 01:16:06,631 And he said we should follow them after the concert. 648 01:16:06,665 --> 01:16:10,151 They would be a good choice for... 649 01:16:10,186 --> 01:16:12,637 for someone to do that again. 650 01:16:12,671 --> 01:16:15,778 I was terrified because I realized that I had 651 01:16:15,812 --> 01:16:17,952 more hours with this man, 652 01:16:17,987 --> 01:16:20,955 but also that this is someone's daughter, 653 01:16:20,990 --> 01:16:24,752 this is someone's sister, this is someone's girlfriend. 654 01:16:24,787 --> 01:16:27,790 And I'm someone's daughter, I'm someone's sister, 655 01:16:27,824 --> 01:16:29,654 I'm someone's girlfriend. 656 01:16:29,688 --> 01:16:33,589 And if it were me, I would want people to try and help. 657 01:16:33,623 --> 01:16:36,039 So I wanted to find her too. 658 01:16:36,074 --> 01:16:41,010 And if he felt comfortable talking to me, 659 01:16:41,044 --> 01:16:42,943 I just had to keep going 660 01:16:42,977 --> 01:16:44,772 and I had to pretend nothing was wrong. 661 01:17:10,591 --> 01:17:13,594 ♪♪ 662 01:17:19,635 --> 01:17:22,292 [Anthony M.] One of the things Christensen told Terra 663 01:17:22,327 --> 01:17:25,951 was that Yingying was his 13th victim. 664 01:17:25,986 --> 01:17:27,953 The FBI investigated this, 665 01:17:27,988 --> 01:17:32,509 and we have not been able to find any other victims. 666 01:17:32,544 --> 01:17:36,652 But we also don't know what we don't know. 667 01:17:38,688 --> 01:17:40,725 [Jacqueline] While this verdict was not surprising, 668 01:17:40,759 --> 01:17:42,727 it was emotional, as we saw smiles 669 01:17:42,761 --> 01:17:45,522 and a few tears in the courtroom as the judge 670 01:17:45,557 --> 01:17:48,629 announced Brendt Christensen guilty as charged. 671 01:17:48,664 --> 01:17:50,562 After about two hours of deliberating, 672 01:17:50,596 --> 01:17:53,910 the jury convicted Christensen on all three accounts, 673 01:17:53,945 --> 01:17:57,293 mainly the kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang, 674 01:17:57,327 --> 01:18:00,158 Christensen's lawyers asking jurors to keep their minds 675 01:18:00,192 --> 01:18:03,644 and hearts open during the penalty phase of trial. 676 01:18:03,679 --> 01:18:06,336 [Ronggao speaking Mandarin] 677 01:18:23,664 --> 01:18:25,804 [Lifeng sobbing] 678 01:18:33,018 --> 01:18:35,331 [muffled sobbing] 679 01:19:47,437 --> 01:19:52,270 ♪♪ 680 01:19:52,304 --> 01:19:56,136 [Jenny] Having seen how much Yingying's family had suffered, 681 01:19:56,170 --> 01:19:58,621 I really hoped for the death penalty. 682 01:20:00,140 --> 01:20:03,453 During the penalty phase, the defense, of course, 683 01:20:03,488 --> 01:20:06,456 made their case to avoid death penalty. 684 01:20:06,491 --> 01:20:10,633 One item they put into evidence was a video of the defendant 685 01:20:10,667 --> 01:20:13,463 at University of Illinois counseling center. 686 01:20:23,991 --> 01:20:27,477 - The defense revealed it to attempt to blame 687 01:20:27,512 --> 01:20:29,514 the defendant's crime 688 01:20:29,548 --> 01:20:31,481 on the University of Illinois counseling center, 689 01:20:31,516 --> 01:20:33,863 or at least to suggest 690 01:20:33,898 --> 01:20:36,659 that it was somehow mitigation for what he did. 691 01:21:48,041 --> 01:21:51,009 ♪♪ 692 01:21:57,774 --> 01:22:01,192 [Jenny] I hadn't seen Yingying's mother in the courtroom. 693 01:22:01,226 --> 01:22:04,264 She later told me that she was so emotional 694 01:22:04,298 --> 01:22:07,681 that she was afraid of jeopardizing the trial, 695 01:22:07,715 --> 01:22:09,372 so she watched the live streaming 696 01:22:09,407 --> 01:22:12,375 in a separate room in the courthouse. 697 01:22:12,410 --> 01:22:15,723 Yingying's father, Yangyang, and Xiaolin 698 01:22:15,758 --> 01:22:19,417 all testified in the court to show how the loss of Yingying 699 01:22:19,451 --> 01:22:21,143 had affected them. 700 01:22:21,177 --> 01:22:25,319 Yingying's mother recorded a testimony beforehand. 701 01:22:27,011 --> 01:22:29,565 [attorney] What kind of a daughter was Yingying? 702 01:22:29,599 --> 01:22:32,740 [translator speaking Mandarin] 703 01:23:08,017 --> 01:23:10,986 ♪♪ 704 01:23:36,839 --> 01:23:40,360 [Jenny, reading] "All moms around the world are the same. 705 01:23:40,394 --> 01:23:43,984 "I sent her a picture of my hand getting tan, 706 01:23:44,019 --> 01:23:46,159 "she thought I had an allergy. 707 01:23:46,193 --> 01:23:49,852 "I said no, but she thought I was lying. 708 01:23:49,886 --> 01:23:53,442 "She even called Xiaolin! So annoying! 709 01:23:53,476 --> 01:23:55,823 "I have to know my goal 710 01:23:55,858 --> 01:23:59,482 "and then pursue it firmly and simply. 711 01:23:59,517 --> 01:24:01,312 "The first year, 712 01:24:01,346 --> 01:24:04,246 "study agriculture and forestry. 713 01:24:04,280 --> 01:24:05,937 "The second year and third year, 714 01:24:05,971 --> 01:24:08,422 "read, read, read. 715 01:24:08,457 --> 01:24:12,495 "The fourth year, scale up from regional to global. 716 01:24:12,530 --> 01:24:15,188 "The fifth year, publish papers 717 01:24:15,222 --> 01:24:18,501 "in high-quality publications like 'Nature'. 718 01:24:18,536 --> 01:24:21,228 "Go back home, build my own team, 719 01:24:21,263 --> 01:24:24,059 "become an academic mogul and a good teacher. 720 01:24:26,199 --> 01:24:29,029 Meanwhile, I want to have a baby." 721 01:24:45,977 --> 01:24:48,945 [indistinct chatter] 722 01:24:48,980 --> 01:24:52,190 ♪♪ 723 01:24:54,882 --> 01:24:57,609 [chatter continues] 724 01:25:09,966 --> 01:25:12,935 [Rob] We took a confidential vote first 725 01:25:12,969 --> 01:25:16,249 and then we went around the table. 726 01:25:16,283 --> 01:25:19,493 Some people were very convinced one way and the other way, 727 01:25:19,528 --> 01:25:22,669 and I was basically on the fence. 728 01:25:22,703 --> 01:25:26,880 Ultimately, I felt that there was no remorse exhibited 729 01:25:26,914 --> 01:25:30,677 by the defendant, and I believed that 730 01:25:30,711 --> 01:25:32,057 he was telling the truth 731 01:25:32,092 --> 01:25:36,441 that she-- she went crazy after she realized 732 01:25:36,476 --> 01:25:39,789 he was not going to the One North apartments. 733 01:25:39,824 --> 01:25:41,826 And he could have made a different choice 734 01:25:41,860 --> 01:25:43,931 at that point of time, he could have seen her 735 01:25:43,966 --> 01:25:46,348 as a person as she fought for her life. 736 01:25:46,382 --> 01:25:48,039 That was another reason 737 01:25:48,073 --> 01:25:52,354 for choosing the death penalty over life in prison. 738 01:25:54,045 --> 01:25:57,359 ♪♪ 739 01:25:59,637 --> 01:26:01,466 [cameras clicking] 740 01:26:04,538 --> 01:26:07,058 [Jacqueline] After eight and a half hours of deliberating, 741 01:26:07,092 --> 01:26:09,992 the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. 742 01:26:10,026 --> 01:26:12,512 The jurors were split 10-2, 743 01:26:12,546 --> 01:26:14,445 ten for death, two for life. 744 01:26:14,479 --> 01:26:17,172 So by law, the court had no choice but to give a sentence 745 01:26:17,206 --> 01:26:19,967 of life in prison without the possibility of release. 746 01:26:20,002 --> 01:26:23,281 - For me, for myself, the result today 747 01:26:23,316 --> 01:26:27,941 seems to tell me that... 748 01:26:27,975 --> 01:26:31,945 I can... I can kill anyone, 749 01:26:31,979 --> 01:26:33,809 and that I can kill anyone 750 01:26:33,843 --> 01:26:39,642 with all kinds of cruel methods, 751 01:26:39,677 --> 01:26:44,268 and I will not need to die for it. 752 01:26:44,302 --> 01:26:48,927 And me, myself, will never agree with that. 753 01:26:48,962 --> 01:26:52,414 ♪♪ 754 01:26:54,450 --> 01:26:56,625 [car pulling up] 755 01:27:01,319 --> 01:27:03,563 - This is a card from the court reporter 756 01:27:03,597 --> 01:27:05,392 who would work in the afternoon. 757 01:27:05,427 --> 01:27:07,394 - Mm-hmm. - The dark haired lady. 758 01:27:07,429 --> 01:27:08,913 - Type? - Right, th-- 759 01:27:08,947 --> 01:27:11,571 Transcribed the testimony. - Okay. 760 01:27:11,605 --> 01:27:13,780 - And so she contacted me 761 01:27:13,814 --> 01:27:17,024 and asked how she could get a card to the family. 762 01:27:17,059 --> 01:27:19,682 [speaking Mandarin] 763 01:27:22,375 --> 01:27:25,032 [Steve] The death penalty is very, very hard to get. 764 01:27:25,067 --> 01:27:28,001 In China, there are literally hundreds if not thousands 765 01:27:28,035 --> 01:27:30,314 of people who are awaiting death sentences. 766 01:27:30,348 --> 01:27:34,007 And you know, that can bring within its sweep, 767 01:27:34,041 --> 01:27:36,389 people who are innocent. 768 01:27:36,423 --> 01:27:41,256 So in America, we'd rather err the other way. 769 01:27:54,614 --> 01:27:57,686 In November of 2018, Christensen's attorneys 770 01:27:57,720 --> 01:28:00,654 told prosecutors what Christensen had told them 771 01:28:00,689 --> 01:28:03,278 about his disposal of Yingying Zhang's body 772 01:28:03,312 --> 01:28:04,796 after her murder. 773 01:28:04,831 --> 01:28:07,799 Because the information came from an immunity agreement, 774 01:28:07,834 --> 01:28:11,286 the statements and any evidence that could be derived from them 775 01:28:11,320 --> 01:28:14,323 could not be used in Christensen's criminal trial. 776 01:28:14,358 --> 01:28:18,914 The Zhang family cannot vouch for the truth of the information 777 01:28:18,948 --> 01:28:22,642 but discloses to you what they have been told. 778 01:28:25,196 --> 01:28:28,095 After killing Yingying Zhang, Christensen placed 779 01:28:28,130 --> 01:28:32,514 her bodily remains into garbage bags. 780 01:28:32,548 --> 01:28:34,032 He placed those garbage bags 781 01:28:34,067 --> 01:28:38,140 in the dumpster immediately outside his apartment building. 782 01:28:38,174 --> 01:28:39,831 The contents of the dumpster 783 01:28:39,866 --> 01:28:42,489 were taken to a private landfill. 784 01:28:42,524 --> 01:28:45,665 It was determined that by the time Christensen's attorneys 785 01:28:45,699 --> 01:28:48,668 disclosed his statements to the federal authorities, 786 01:28:48,702 --> 01:28:50,497 the contents of the dumpster 787 01:28:50,532 --> 01:28:52,672 that contained Yingying's remains 788 01:28:52,706 --> 01:28:55,330 would've been covered by at least 30 feet of fill. 789 01:28:57,987 --> 01:29:00,783 It's evident that any attempt to recover Yingying's remains 790 01:29:00,818 --> 01:29:03,407 would be complicated and expensive. 791 01:29:03,441 --> 01:29:07,342 To date, no search has been undertaken, but the Zhang family 792 01:29:07,376 --> 01:29:09,861 understands that the authorities are still considering 793 01:29:09,896 --> 01:29:12,692 an attempt to locate and recover Yingying's remains. 794 01:29:53,698 --> 01:29:55,666 [indistinct prayers] 795 01:30:32,047 --> 01:30:34,877 ♪♪ 796 01:30:45,440 --> 01:30:48,719 [Jenny] Yingying's family set up a meeting with Terra. 797 01:30:48,753 --> 01:30:52,481 Terra had asked me if I could help her with Mandarin, 798 01:30:52,516 --> 01:30:55,484 a language that she had studied in high school. 799 01:30:57,037 --> 01:30:59,350 She wanted to read a letter to the family. 800 01:31:01,594 --> 01:31:03,078 [deep breath] 801 01:32:06,348 --> 01:32:08,315 [Xiaolin] The mom said you are brave 802 01:32:08,350 --> 01:32:10,835 and you are just as kind as Yingying, 803 01:32:10,870 --> 01:32:12,492 and to help others. 804 01:32:12,527 --> 01:32:14,529 [crying] 805 01:32:16,703 --> 01:32:19,672 ♪♪ 806 01:32:26,471 --> 01:32:30,648 [Jenny] Yingying's family left without Yingying once again. 807 01:32:30,683 --> 01:32:34,756 Yingying's father asked me to keep them updated about 808 01:32:34,790 --> 01:32:36,999 the search for Yingying's remains, 809 01:32:37,034 --> 01:32:41,072 and they would come back whenever it takes place. 810 01:32:41,107 --> 01:32:44,420 If it ever takes place. 811 01:32:44,455 --> 01:32:48,701 He also told me that they're suing U of I employees 812 01:32:48,735 --> 01:32:51,048 for what he sees as negligence 813 01:32:51,082 --> 01:32:53,775 on the part of the counseling center. 814 01:32:53,809 --> 01:32:56,916 If they win, they hope to use the money 815 01:32:56,950 --> 01:32:58,918 to continue the search. 816 01:33:03,474 --> 01:33:08,444 Yingying and I both came to the U.S. for our dreams. 817 01:33:08,479 --> 01:33:12,897 Now, she's here forever, her dream unfulfilled. 818 01:33:14,761 --> 01:33:18,558 I wonder, if she never got into that car, 819 01:33:18,593 --> 01:33:20,871 what she would be doing now? 820 01:33:20,905 --> 01:33:24,909 ♪♪ 821 01:34:55,068 --> 01:34:58,002 "Life is too short to be ordinary!" 822 01:34:58,037 --> 01:35:03,111 ♪♪ 823 01:35:14,122 --> 01:35:17,504 ♪♪ 824 01:35:25,340 --> 01:35:29,344 [children chattering] 825 01:35:40,700 --> 01:35:44,704 ♪♪ 826 01:36:10,316 --> 01:36:15,321 ♪♪