Deceased/Not Found IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #10 *Still Missing*

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Monday, July 15th:
*Penalty Phase of Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9:30am @ CT) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017, Urbana; not found) - *Brendt A. Christensen (28) indicted (6/30/17) on kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying & 2 counts of giving false statements to FBI. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/3/19 with jury selection & took until 6/11/19 to pick a jury. 12 jurors & 6 alternates. (7 men & 5 women). Trial ended 6/24/19. Jurors reached a verdict in less than 2 hours. Christensen was found GUILTY of kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Also found GUILTY on two counts of making false statements to the FBI. Penalty Phase started on 7/8.
Jury Selection Days 1 to 7 (6/3/19 to 6/7/19) & Trial days 1 to 9 (6/12/19 to 6/24/19), Court info (7/2/19 to 7/5/19) & Penalty Phase Day 1 to 3 (7/8/19 to 7/10/19) reference post #706 here:
GUILTY - IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #10 *Still Missing*

7/11/19 Penalty Phase Day 4: Defense witnesses: Smitha Vishveshwara (a University of Illinois faculty member in the Department of Physics). Rita Garrido Menacho (fellow grad student). David Belk (Jr. High track coach & advanced algebra teacher). UI Physics and Astronomy Professor Telemachus Mouschovias. Elaine Schulte (the manager of the large intro physics classes). UI Physics Professor, Nayda Mason (hired Christensen to work in her lab). UI Physics Professor Steven Lance Cooper (the assistant head of graduate physics programs). UW Madison physics professor, Matthew Herndon. Defense team also said they hope to finish Monday or Tuesday, with Christensen’s ex-wife, mother and sister still set to testify. Penalty phase continues to 7/12.
7/12 Penalty Phase Day 5: Defense witnesses: Michelle Zortman (ex wife). UI counselors: Felicia Li (a clinical counselor & triage case manager at UI). Jennifer Maupin (former clinical counselor). Christensen asks to leave the courtroom because of a migraine. The judge honors his request, but says he will tell the jury Christensen’s “not feeling well” instead of going into detail. Christensen is excused for the remainder of court today. Next defense witnesses: Tom Miebach (a clinical counselor & triage case counselor at UI). Susan Zoline (an expert in psychology ethics). Judge Jim Shadid has said the sentencing phase could go to the jury next week. But first, defense attorneys plan to have Christensen’s mother and sister testify. Penalty phase continues to Monday, 7/15.
 
Random thought #3

You guys are giving this guy WAAAY to much credit as a criminal mastermind. He got caught because he was a dumbass who made too many mistakes and couldn’t keep his mouth shut. It appears that it just so happens that his best thought out and most well executed part of his plan was how to dispose of her -or maybe he just got lucky with this aspect.
I think the lack of recovery of her remains is, unfortunately, making lots of people think that he is more than he is.....

This cuts all different ways though... I'm not sure BC would've been caught at all (or certainly not that soon) were it not for the one fuzzy camera clip of the Astra picking up YY -- that led in turn to everything else. Kidnapping on a city street in broad daylight when there are cameras everywhere these days, is pretty dumb, and bragging about it to a girlfriend you've only known a couple of months is even dumber, but I don't think he made "too many mistakes" just a couple of big ones. If it ever turns out that he's committed other unsolved/unknown murders (I don't think it will) than he's even smarter than we give him credit for. To me he's more demented than "dumbass" though I understand where you're coming from.
 
He seemed supremely confident that the remains would not be found. TBH if it's your goal to commit an unsolvable crime, which seems to be all the rage these days, it's still within the realm of possibility. For this reason, I'm glad that prosecutors are getting better at no-body convictions. Every crime leaves some sort of evidence, and some evidence can be overwhelming.
 
This cuts all different ways though... I'm not sure BC would've been caught at all (or certainly not that soon) were it not for the one fuzzy camera clip of the Astra picking up YY -- that led in turn to everything else. Kidnapping on a city street in broad daylight when there are cameras everywhere these days, is pretty dumb, and bragging about it to a girlfriend you've only known a couple of months is even dumber, but I don't think he made "too many mistakes" just a couple of big ones. If it ever turns out that he's committed other unsolved/unknown murders (I don't think it will) than he's even smarter than we give him credit for. To me he's more demented than "dumbass" though I understand where you're coming from.

Yes, yes, yes...BC's two biggest mistakes in avoiding getting caught were using an automobile that is rare and underestimating the use of CCTV, especially in a college town the size of Champaign.
 
BEN
Jail employees testifying today. Livingston County Jail supt. Stuart Inman first. (1/8)

Christensen has been there from late September 2017 to the end of May 2019, when he was taken to the Peoria County Jail to be close to the courthouse during trial. (2/8)

Christensen had no violations, Inman said. Only incident was with a "stinger" in April 2018. A stinger is a piece of metal put in an outlet to heat water. (3/8)

Christensen apparently blocked the window into his cell but was found not culpable and not punished (4/8)
He lived with 7 other inmates in a "pod". (5/8)

Christensen also was only supposed to have 3 books at a time, but had more and the extras were stored away. Again, not a violation for this. (6/8

Sgt. Donald Niles said Christensen would stay up late or all night reading and writing. "He didn't sleep very much" (7/8

On cross, Inman said inmates in Christensen's pod had access to their own TV, shower, phone, video phone and tablet. Christensen let Inman know the WiFi was weak, and the jail fixed that. (8

wifi????Tablet??????????
breathtaking...
did he check out websleuths at all, I wonder? Home from home for him, eh?
 
  1. ail officials said Christensen “didn’t sleep very much.” Stayed up most the night watching TV, reading books & writing.

    0 replies0 retweets0 likes

  2. Jacqueline Francis‏Verified account @FrancisonFoxIL 10m10 minutes ago
    In cross, federal prosecutors said Christensen had every incentive to behave. Following rules = access to tv, recreation area, outside food choices & more.

    0 replies0 retweets0 likes

  3. Jacqueline Francis‏Verified account @FrancisonFoxIL 12m12 minutes ago
    According to jail officials, Christensen was a low maintenance detainee, never received consequences for misbehavior.
 
BEN
Jail employees testifying today. Livingston County Jail supt. Stuart Inman first. (1/8)

Christensen has been there from late September 2017 to the end of May 2019, when he was taken to the Peoria County Jail to be close to the courthouse during trial. (2/8)

Christensen had no violations, Inman said. Only incident was with a "stinger" in April 2018. A stinger is a piece of metal put in an outlet to heat water. (3/8)

Christensen apparently blocked the window into his cell but was found not culpable and not punished (4/8)
He lived with 7 other inmates in a "pod". (5/8)

Christensen also was only supposed to have 3 books at a time, but had more and the extras were stored away. Again, not a violation for this. (6/8

Sgt. Donald Niles said Christensen would stay up late or all night reading and writing. "He didn't sleep very much" (7/8

On cross, Inman said inmates in Christensen's pod had access to their own TV, shower, phone, video phone and tablet. Christensen let Inman know the WiFi was weak, and the jail fixed that. (8

wifi????Tablet??????????
breathtaking...
did he check out websleuths at all, I wonder? Home from home for him, eh?
"Sgt. Donald Niles said Christensen would stay up late or all night reading and writing. 'He didn't sleep very much'"

wonder what he was writing... does the Defense or Prosecution or police know, or is it protected by some privacy rule???
 
BEN
A jail employee, Nicholas Melvin, was asked what Christensen read. Said they talked about the Goosebumps books (1/6

this!!
On cross, Melvin was asked if he was aware Christensen read books about demonology and the occult. Melvin said no. (2/6

At a break, defense strongly objected, saying his reading materials, YouTube viewing history, etc, weren't supposed to be brought up in trial, and that the question would unfairly prejudice the jury. (3/6)

Pollock said he expressed an interest in those books in an email to his wife, but never received them (4/6)

udge Shadid denied a motion for mistrial and said he'd consider a limiting instruction to the jury (5/6

Now on long break for lunch. Christensen's mother, stepfather and sister are expected to testify, wrapping up the defense's case. Prosecution said they'll have a rebuttal today or tomorrow. (6/6)
 
courtney has some tweets about this morning

  1. However, there was one incident when BC stood against the door of his pod along with a garbage can, in order to block the view into the pod. Apparently BC’s fellow inmates were using a “stinger” inside the pod, which was used to heat up water or food. @WCIA3


  2. Courtney Bunting‏ @cbuntingWCIA3 5m5 minutes ago
    Defense attorney George Taseff questions Inman about Christensen’s (BC’s) time being housed at the Livingston County Jail and about BC’s behavior. Taseff says BC didn’t cause any issues for the most part. @WCIA3



  3. Courtney Bunting‏ @cbuntingWCIA3 50m50 minutes ago
    Defense calls first witness — Stewart Inman, the Jail Superintendent with Livingston County Sheriff’s Department at the time Brendt Christensen was housed there. @WCIA3
Another witness — Livingston County Sergeant Donald Niles also testified that BC “didn’t sleep much” while he was in jail, saying he “pretty much stayed in his area the whole time.”

Defense Attorney Taseff: “Would you say he (BC) was a model inmate?” Niles: “I would say he did what he was supposed to do and followed the rules, yes.” @WCIA3

Witness Keesha Burns is brief. She’s a Correctional Officer at Livingston County Jail and says BC would be up most of the night, but she never had any problems with him. @W

Taseff: “Was he (BC) low-maintenance?” Burns: “Yeah, pretty much.” @

Next witness - Nicolas Melvin, Livingston County Sheriff’s Department Correctional Officer. Melvin says h

e only had brief interactions with BC, and names one time when the two talked about reading the book Goosebumps. @WCIA3

When Melvin mentions Goosebumps, BC smiles. Later, during cross-examination, the prosecution asks Melvin: “Were you also aware that he (BC) was reading books about demonology and the occult?” Melvin replies, “No

After the jury leaves, the defense says they strongly object the prosecution bringing up BC reading books about demonology and the occult. The defense says BC was only emailing his wife about wanting to read those books, but he didn’t have any yet. @

Next witness - Patricia Perez, who worked as a Correctional Officer at Livingston County Jail while BC was there. Perez was the officer who caught BC blocking the door of his pod with a trash can.

Perez says BC quickly moved away from the door when she asked him to, and other than that incident, she didn’t have any issues with him. @

( I always believed he was into Satanism and this murder was committed as a ritualistic offering to some satanic deity, guess we'll never know unless he gets lwop and prisons start reporting black masses)
 
BEN


this!!
On cross, Melvin was asked if he was aware Christensen read books about demonology and the occult. Melvin said no. (2/6

At a break, defense strongly objected, saying his reading materials, YouTube viewing history, etc, weren't supposed to be brought up in trial, and that the question would unfairly prejudice the jury. (3/6)
(6/6)

Why shouldn't this be brought up in trial? Aren't we supposed to know about the prisoners likes and dislikes. Ridiculous.
 
Now comes Brendt Christensen yet AGAIN
Notice (Other) – #462 in United States v. Christensen (C.D. Ill., 2:17-cr-20037) – CourtListener.com

(his thyroid- doctor googling, was he??- probably weight gain, vanity and narcissistic theme continues)

Medical Clinic after he came to that clinic on January 21, 2016, reported that he had been feeling depressed for two years and asked that he receive tests of his thyroid function. Thyroid function tests were given and the results were negative. Mr. Christensen was therefore referred to the McKinley Mental Health Clinic and Dr. Pearson saw him on February 4, 2016.
The depressive symptoms that Brendt reported to her were: Sad mood; low motivation; slightly decreased appetite; low energy; poor memory; poor concentration; and a decreased interest in sexual activity over the preceding two years. She observed that Brendt’s affect was mildly depressed, meaning that his appearance and emotional reactivity looked to her to be slightly depressed. Brendt reported that he felt depressed. He said he had occasional thoughts of suicide but would never act on those thoughts. He had no relationship distress

At the conclusion of her evaluation I diagnosed Brendt with Persistent Depressive Disorder with symptoms of anxiety. She asked him if he would like to try medication to treat that disorder and he concurred. She prescribed a medication called sertraline which is a generic version of a drug with the brand name Zoloft. Sertraline is a medication used to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety. She instructed Brendt to start taking 25mg per day, and after a week to increase the dose to 50mg per day. She also reviewed with him the common side effects of the medication and asked him to come back and see her in two weeks.

Two weeks later, on February 18, 2016, Brendt came to see her for the second time. He had increased is dose of sertraline from 20mg to 50mg as directed. Brendt reported that there had been no improvement in his significant symptoms of depression and he continued to be anxious. She instructed him to increase his dose of sertraline to 75mg and asked him to return in two weeks. M. Brendt came in to see me again on March 3, 2016, two weeks later. He reported that he had had one episode of alcohol ingestion since his last appointment and was getting enough sleep. His affect appeared to be bright. She made no changes to his medication following that visit

However, his mood continued to be slightly depressed and his energy level was somewhat low. Brendt reported that his progress at his lab was still slow and that he had made mistakes in his work. He also told her that he and his wife were now discussing divorce after five years of marriage. She noted that he was under significant stress. She instructed Brendt to increase his sertraline dose from 75mg per day to 100mg per day and to come back to see her in six to eight weeks.(April '16!!!!)

waking up in the middle of the night and having difficulty falling back asleep. He reported that his marriage situation had improved. He had decided to accept a master’s degree instead of continuing to pursue a Ph.D. and he appeared relieved. She prescribed him trazodone 50mg to take in addition to the sertraline. Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that is frequently used as a sleep aid.

(talk about polypharmacy!!! Antidepressants take at least 30 days, she upped dose after 2 weeks, maybe it's her that should be sued?)

(this is actually very long and windy it goes on to say that counselors should have informed her... she would, no doubt have readjusted her diagnosis, not to take account of polypharmacy and drug interactions and written scripts for even more poison. Having said that, it I wonder why he attended the counselor rather than return to herself???)







She asked Brendt some questions regarding his family history. She did so as a method of assessing the adequacy of his network of social support. Brendt reported that he had two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister, but he was not close to either one. He stated that his brother was now in Asia and his sister was reportedly living in a van in the Pacific Northwest. Brendt stated that his parents divorced in 2013 and that he was in contact only with his mother who he described as an active alcoholic. He had been married for several years and his wife was working as a loan officer at Busey Bank. He report
 
and again..
Notice (Other) – #463 in United States v. Christensen (C.D. Ill., 2:17-cr-20037) – CourtListener.com

NOW COMES the Defendant, BRENDT A. CHRISTENSEN, by and through his attorneys, and for his Offer of Proof Regarding Medical and Mental Health Records excluded from the penalty phase of his trial, states as follows: 1. By order dated June 28, 2019, the Court excluded from Mr. Christensen’s trial medical and mental health records of Mr. Christensen and his family members, except as to “the effect relatives’ mental illness had on Defendant’s upbringing,” if Mr. Christensen’s parents or other testifying relatives have “personal knowledge of these matters.” Doc. 432 at 5. The Court’s stated reason for this ruling was that “the Court will not send numerous medical records back to the jury without explanation.” Id. 2. The defense intended to present the records through a mitigation

they're milking this to death... it's almost pure mental health mitigation now, having signed away right to present it..
 
His psychiatrist's evaluation is a far stronger civil argument than that presented by the family lawyers...
I imagine Christensen could also sue here.
It would be interesting to receive a pharmaceutical opine on the drugs he was prescribed...
I suspect, reluctantly this is the only mitigating factor worth water.
But they spent 2 years and almost the entire trial chasing their tails, trolling and delaying...
Interestingly his shrink's report is nothing like the mental health defense he created for himself, from books, no doubt, which would not stand up to scrutiny.
If they had played this card from the outset... could be viable... maybe, possibly
 
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