Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A 28-year-old man charged in the abduction of a University of Illinois scholar from China has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Brendt Christensen is accused of kidnapping 26-year-old Yingying Zhang on June 9 in Urbana, 140 miles (225 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. He is a recent graduate student in physics at the university.
Under questioning Thursday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric Long, Christensen revealed he is taking Klonopin "as an anti-depressant."
Christensen said the medication did not affect his ability to understand the charges against him.
Investigators say Zhang was abducted after she left campus to sign an apartment lease. They believe Christensen lured her into his car.
Investigators have said they believe Zhang is dead, although her body hasn't been found.
The judge set a Sept. 12 trial date for Christensen.
___
Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
