Brendt Christensen pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of Yingying Zhang, a University of Illinois student from China.
“We look forward to defending vigorously the rights of our client in this case, ” defense attorney Anthony Bruno told reporters. “I think it’s important that we all wait to the evidence is in to draw conclusions about what has happened in this case.”
Zhang disappeared June 9 while on her way to sign an apartment lease. Law enforcement officials believe she is dead, according to a criminal complaint filed before Christensen, 28, was arrested on June 30.
He is due in court again on August 28 for a pretrial hearing. A trial has tentatively been scheduled for September 12.
The maximum penalty for someone convicted of kidnapping in federal court is life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Suspect changes story, FBI says
Zhang, 26, was last seen getting into Christensen’s car at a bus stop on June 9, the complaint says, citing video evidence.
Authorities have said Christensen changed his story about what he was doing that day. At first he told them he couldn’t remember where he was at the time Zhang disappeared, the complaint says.
