Video shows accused killer of missing university student changing story
A former physics student, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering a visiting Chinese scholar, abruptly changed his story while being questioned by investigators, new video shows.
In the video, Brendt Christensen, a 29-year-old teaching assistant at the University of Illinois, is confronted by the FBI and university police, ABC News reports.
He was being questioned about the disappearance of Yingying Zhang, 26, who was last seen getting into a black Saturn Astra in June, 2017.
A week later, Christensen was brought in for questioning after police traced the car back to him, ABC reports.
In the interview, University of Illinois Police Detective Eric Stiverson and FBI Agent Anthony Manganaro ask him where he was on the day Ms Zhang disappeared.
Brendt Christensen was recorded talking about how he had murdered Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang. Supplied
Christensen initially tells investigators he was sleeping and playing video games. But then his story changes.
"Maybe I mixed up the dates," Christensen told investigators. "I did pick a girl up."
During Christensen’s trial in court this week, detective Stiversen noted in his testimony that at that point in the interview Christensen began hyperventilating.
“Why would you lie to the FBI?” an investigator asked in the taped interview.
“I mixed up the days...” Christensen replied.
Christensen says in the interview that although the girl looked similar to Ms Zhang he did not think it was her.
He says he dropped the girl off in a residential area but could not provide the exact location.
The interview ends when Christensen asks for a lawyer.
Yingying Zhang's body has never been found. Supplied
Christensen has been charged with kidnapping resulting in death, two counts of providing false statements to investigators.
He initially pleaded not guilty, but has since admitted to kidnapping and killing Zhang, according to his lawyer’s opening statement in court last week.
His defence team added that they had issues with "the way the government says the events occurred."
Christensen could be facing the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutors say Christensen researched serial killers online and talked of Ms Zhang being his 13th victim. Supplied
Earlier this week, FBI agent Andrew Huckstadt told the court the bureau was investigating an explosive claim made by Christensen on tape to his girlfriend that Ms Zhang was actually his 13th victim.
Although so far there was no evidence to indicate whether he was telling the truth, the FBI agent said.
"We are continuing to investigate, and that's as far as we can go at this time," agent Andrew Huckstadt said.
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