Deceased/Not Found IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #7 *Arrest*

[kittythehare]

What makes you think that YingYing wasn't his first? To me, everything about her kidnapping makes me think it was his first time.

If you read the thread there is reference to another assault.

 

[dm92]

A little more info....

Jury selection begins April 2, trial starts on the 9th. Judge expects it to last about five weeks.

Also from this:

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/defense-advantage-wapril-trial-date/970231480

The judge also denied motions, including changing the venue, suppressing evidence from Christensen's apartment and recorded statements of his.

No change of venue, and none of the evidence will be suppressed. Good.

 

[yurena]

Latest: Trial pushed to April 2019

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-12/christensen-trial-pushed-april-2019.html

More than one year's wait? Why? This is so cruel. Her family has suffered long enough already

 

[dm92]

Resource for viewing legal documents filed with the court and court rulings pertaining to this case...

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/

One tidbit I learned looking at these: As of a January 15th filing, his counsel is unaware of any evidence of contact between BC and YZ by phone or internet. So, that should help dispel any theories that they had met or were in contact with one another before this incident.

The most recent rulings made today are not up, but they should be at some point in the coming days......

 

[kittythehare]

Resource for viewing legal documents filed with the court and court rulings pertaining to this case...

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/

One tidbit I learned looking at these: As of a January 15th filing, his counsel is unaware of any evidence of contact between BC and YZ by phone or internet. So, that should help dispel any theories that they had met or were in contact with one another before this incident.

The most recent rulings made today are not up, but they should be at some point in the coming days......

I will direct link to the documents I could open
- His financial affidavit https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.8.0.pdf

-Indictment, July 12 https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.13.0.pdf
-Superseding Indictment, July 12 https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.26.0.pdf
- Motion to file reply https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.31.0.pdf
- nov 15 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/34/united-states-v-christensen/
-Motion to bar expert testimony https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/35/united-states-v-christensen/
-Response to above https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/36/united-states-v-christensen/
- Jan 15- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/37/united-states-v-christensen/ (docket 32)
-Motion of bill of particulars Jan 15, 2018 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/38/united-states-v-christensen/
The government confiscated multiple electronic devices pursuant to search

warrants in this case, including three cell phones belonging to Brendt Christensen. All

of the electronic data, which includes cell phone extractions and mirror images of

computer hard drives, adds up to approximately 3 terabytes. Each cell phone extraction

was performed using the Cellebrite mobile forensics system. As counsel understands

the process, the physical extraction of the data involves a bit-by-bit copy of the entire

flash memory of each mobile device. This extraction method not only enables the

acquisition of intact data, but also data that is hidden or has been deleted. When

Jan 15 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/39/united-states-v-christensen/
Jan 15- change venue motion https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/41/united-states-v-christensen/
-above has 20 pages plus attachments!!
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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION in Limine to Exclude Confidential Marital Communications by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-43​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Evidence Seized Pursuant to the Illegal Search of Defendant's Apartment by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-44​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Bar and Suppress Identification Testimony and Evidence by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-45​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-46​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements Surreptitiously Recorded by TEB by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Main Document 47 replaced with redacted copy on 1/16/2018 at request of counsel) (KM, ilcd). (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-47​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements Allegedly Made to Cellhouse Informant by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-48​

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Seal Document by USA as to Brendt A Christensen. (Miller, Eugene) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-49​

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[dm92]

A little more info....

Jury selection begins April 2, trial starts on the 9th. Judge expects it to last about five weeks.

Also from this:

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/defense-advantage-wapril-trial-date/970231480



No change of venue, and none of the evidence will be suppressed. Good.

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, he's not denying things on the merits. He wants a clean slate under the new trial schedule...

From the updated News-Gazette article:

Wanting a clean slate with the new trial schedule, Bruce denied several pretrial motions and said amended versions would need to be refiled, including ones by Christensen’s lawyers to change the venue and drop the main charge against him.

​

He's just clearing the deck at this stage, and telling them to file amended motions if they so choose. So it is still up in the air, unfortunately....

 

[kittythehare]

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/reaction-to-delay-of-christensens-trial/970450568

The vice president of the Chinese Association of Illinois was shocked at the delayed date of the trial, but said he has faith in the judicial system and he expects justice to prevail.
China is 13-hours ahead of Illinois. Zhang's family could not be reached. Her mother only wants to know where her daughter's body is.

Christensen came into court with a green uniform and a more pronounced beard than court sketches show....
disintegration???

 

[dm92]

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/reaction-to-delay-of-christensens-trial/970450568



Christensen came into court with a green uniform and a more pronounced beard than court sketches show....
disintegration???

Access to shaving is restricted, possibly?. IIRC he is under suicide watch, or he was at one time.......

 

[Webthrush]

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, he's not denying things on the merits. He wants a clean slate under the new trial schedule...

From the updated News-Gazette article:

Wanting a clean slate with the new trial schedule, Bruce denied several pretrial motions and said amended versions would need to be refiled, including ones by Christensen’s lawyers to change the venue and drop the main charge against him.

​

He's just clearing the deck at this stage, and telling them to file amended motions if they so choose. So it is still up in the air, unfortunately....

I may be delusional 8-/ but I almost wonder if this “clearing the deck” and suggesting refiling may really be a judge’s subtle way of saying ‘you’ve got a losing case, you ought to work this out with prosecutors for a plea bargain, and avoid ever going to trial’.
I just have trouble now seeing this ever reaching trial and the pain inflicted on the family being dragged out that long.

 

[kittythehare]

still sleuthing.. https://everipedia.org/wiki/brendt-christensen/
He spent the 2012-13 school year serving as a research assistant​ in Switzerland​, where he analyzed data​ generated from the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle collider​. [13]​ [10]​

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is by far the most powerful particle accelerator built to date. Following an upgrade, the LHC now operates at an energy that is 7 times higher than any previous machine! The LHC is based at the European particle physics laboratory CERN, near Geneva in Switzerland.

https://www.stfc.ac.uk/research/particle-physics-and-particle-astrophysics/large-hadron-collider/

Cern website https://home.cern/
I have not managed to trawl through all this yet so if somebody is free to help, would be easier?
https://genevalunch.com/tag/missing-persons/

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1477370814541338
[h=1]Unsolved homicides in Switzerland: Patterns and explanations[/h] http://journals.sagepub.com/keyword/Unsolved+Homicides

Having difficulty accessing swiss homicide database.. just those 2 yrs, just women and including missing women..

 

[Deleted member 192280]

What was the result about judge recusal?

Hearing in U. of I. scholar kidnapping case to address judge recusal
"Monday's hearing in U.S. District Court in Urbana is expected to address the recusal issue and other matters.
A two-page filing on Wednesday didn't spell out why Brendt Christensen's attorneys think Colin Stirling Bruce should step aside. And neither defense attorney Robert Tucker nor the U.S. attorney's office would comment."

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-zhang-kidnapping-hearing-20180212-story.html

Pretty short story but we might just find out Brendt's defense's reasoning for asking the judge to recuse himself.

 

[dm92]

What was the result about judge recusal?

not sure when, but that will be a different hearing. The prosecutors have yet to file their response to the defense motion on recusal....

 

[margarita25]

I will direct link to the documents I could open
- His financial affidavit https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.8.0.pdf

-Indictment, July 12 https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.13.0.pdf
-Superseding Indictment, July 12 https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.26.0.pdf
- Motion to file reply https://ia800805.us.archive.org/11/items/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076/gov.uscourts.ilcd.70076.31.0.pdf
- nov 15 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/34/united-states-v-christensen/
-Motion to bar expert testimony https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/35/united-states-v-christensen/
-Response to above https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/36/united-states-v-christensen/
- Jan 15- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/37/united-states-v-christensen/ (docket 32)
-Motion of bill of particulars Jan 15, 2018 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/38/united-states-v-christensen/
The government confiscated multiple electronic devices pursuant to search

warrants in this case, including three cell phones belonging to Brendt Christensen. All

of the electronic data, which includes cell phone extractions and mirror images of

computer hard drives, adds up to approximately 3 terabytes. Each cell phone extraction

was performed using the Cellebrite mobile forensics system. As counsel understands

the process, the physical extraction of the data involves a bit-by-bit copy of the entire

flash memory of each mobile device. This extraction method not only enables the

acquisition of intact data, but also data that is hidden or has been deleted. When

Jan 15 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/39/united-states-v-christensen/
Jan 15- change venue motion https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/41/united-states-v-christensen/
-above has 20 pages plus attachments!!
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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION in Limine to Exclude Confidential Marital Communications by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Evidence Seized Pursuant to the Illegal Search of Defendant's Apartment by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-44"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Bar and Suppress Identification Testimony and Evidence by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-45"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-46"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements Surreptitiously Recorded by TEB by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Main Document 47 replaced with redacted copy on 1/16/2018 at request of counsel) (KM, ilcd). (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-47"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Suppress Statements Allegedly Made to Cellhouse Informant by Brendt A Christensen. (Pollock, Elisabeth) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-48"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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Jan 15, 2018

MOTION to Seal Document by USA as to Brendt A Christensen. (Miller, Eugene) (Entered: 01/15/2018)

[RIGHT][URL="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6129073/united-states-v-christensen/#entry-49"][/URL][/RIGHT]


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still sleuthing.. https://everipedia.org/wiki/brendt-christensen/
He spent the 2012-13 school year serving as a research assistant​ in Switzerland​, where he analyzed data​ generated from the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle collider​. [13]​ [10]​

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is by far the most powerful particle accelerator built to date. Following an upgrade, the LHC now operates at an energy that is 7 times higher than any previous machine! The LHC is based at the European particle physics laboratory CERN, near Geneva in Switzerland.

https://www.stfc.ac.uk/research/particle-physics-and-particle-astrophysics/large-hadron-collider/

Cern website https://home.cern/
I have not managed to trawl through all this yet so if somebody is free to help, would be easier?
https://genevalunch.com/tag/missing-persons/

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1477370814541338
[h=1]Unsolved homicides in Switzerland: Patterns and explanations[/h] http://journals.sagepub.com/keyword/Unsolved+Homicides

Having difficulty accessing swiss homicide database.. just those 2 yrs, just women and including missing women..

(Marking, thanks.)

 

[Niner]

My notes:

Thursday, February 15th:
*Hearing on Motion to Recuse Judge (@ ET) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017( - Brendt A. Christensen (28) accused kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying and 2 counts of making false statements to FBI. Pled not guilty; no bond. DA will seek DP.
Judge Bruce has set April 2, 2019 for jury selection and trial to start on April 9, 2019, which should last about 5 weeks. Bruce denied several pretrial motions by the Defense & said amended versions will need to be refiled, including one by Defense of change of venue and to drop main charge against him.
Defense attorneys want Judge Bruce to recuse himself from case, prosecutors have until Thursday (2/15) to respond.

 

[dm92]

Some news from the radio:

1) BC transferred to Livingston county jail.

2) Court filings today suggest a plea bargain may be being discussed or has been discussed.

also, via court filing.....

3) Govt. filed motion to compel BC to provide his palm prints, so they can compare them with palm prints discovered on physical evidence gathered via search warrants.

 

[Webthrush]

Some news from the radio:

1) BC transferred to Livingston county jail.

2) Court filings today suggest a plea bargain may be being discussed or has been discussed.

also, via court filing.....

3) Govt. filed motion to compel BC to provide his palm prints, so they can compare them with palm prints discovered on physical evidence gathered via search warrants.

That all sounds interesting, and kind of sudden... did they give any reason for the jail transfer?

 

[dm92]

That all sounds interesting, and kind of sudden... did they give any reason for the jail transfer?

No reason given, and no announcement made or indication when it took place. The motion to compel him to provide palm prints mentions he is in the Livingston county jail.

The info referring to plea discussions is found in another motion that discusses unsealing sealed documents, most notably docket item #32, which appears to be what is at issue and driving the defense motion to have the judge recuse himself. Docket item #32 is apparently a letter written by someone and delivered to the court. The Govt. is not opposing unsealing this document, so hopefully we will learn what it is....

 

[Niner]

Thursday, February 15th:
*Hearing on Motion to Recuse Judge (@ ET) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017) - Brendt A. Christensen (28) accused kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying and 2 counts of making false statements to FBI. Pled not guilty; no bond. DA will seek DP.
Judge Bruce has set April 2, 2019 for jury selection and trial to start on April 9, 2019, which should last about 5 weeks. Bruce denied several pretrial motions by the Defense & said amended versions will need to be refiled, including one by Defense of change of venue and to drop main charge against him. Defense attorneys want Judge Bruce to recuse himself from case, prosecutors have until Thursday (2/15) to respond.

 

[kittythehare]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/prosecutors-held-plea-talks-kidnapping-case-53119901

Prosecutors say they've held talks on a possible plea deal with the suspect charged with kidnapping and killing a University of Illinoisscholar from China.
Prosecutors disclosed the talks in an Urbana federal court filing which offered no additional details. They recently said they'll seek the death penalty for Brendt Christensen, citing how he allegedly tortured 26-year-old Yingying Zhang before killing her. Her body hasn't been found.

 

[kittythehare]

looks quite luxurious
https://www.livgov.com/sheriff/jail

inmate roster https://www.livcoso.org/roster.php?grp=40(he's not on it, will search again)


not here either

https://www2.illinois.gov/IDOC/OFFENDER/Pages/InmateSearch.aspx

Not here either https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/


Where is he?