Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Killer of Visiting Chinese Student Given Life Sentence Without Parole

VOA News

   A 29-year-old former University of Illinois student will spend the rest
   of his life in prison for kidnapping and murdering a visiting Chinese
   scholar in 2017.

   When the jury deadlocked on whether Brendt Christensen should get the
   death penalty, federal Judge James Shadid automatically sentenced him
   to a life term with no chance of parole.

   Christensen kidnapped and murdered Yingying Zhang by beating her with a
   bat and cutting off her head.

   Her body has never been found. Zhang's parents came from China to
   Peoria, Illinois, for the trial. They pleaded with Christensen to
   reveal where he put her body.

   "If you have any humanity left in your soul, please help us end our
   torment," a family statement read.

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