Brendt Christensen, 28, was ordered held without bond and was released into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service where he will remain until his trial.
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Prosecutors said Christensen drove the black Saturn Astra Zhang was seen climbing into on surveillance video. Prosecutors said that while he was under surveillance, Christensen made statements indicating his involvement and, coupled with other findings, led law enforcement agents to believe she is no longer alive.
Kidnapping charges were filed Friday, June 30. Christensen is a former physics PhD candidate at the University of Illinois.
Federal prosecutors said in court Wednesday that Christensen was seen in attendance at a vigil in walk for Zhang that was held on June 29. Prosecutors also said in court that Christensen talked about "the characteristics of an ideal victim," said Zhang fought and resisted during the kidnapping, and threatened another person to whom he had made incriminating statements.
Federal prosecutors said in the criminal complaint that Christensen had been under surveillance for nearly two weeks before his arrest.
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CLICK HERE to read the full criminal complaint
Zhang had been on her way to sign a lease at the time of her abduction, prosecutors said. Investigators believe she accepted the ride from a stranger because she was running late for that appointment.
Security cameras captured the Astra stopping by Zhang as she waited for a bus near a campus parking garage. Zhang is seen speaking to the driver for a time before getting in the car. It was the last time she was seen.
Investigators have not found her body.