The text is a transcript of a podcast episode where the host, Lisbeth, shares a chilling case of a missing woman named Jin Jin Zhao who disappeared in 2017. Zhao was a highly intelligent Chinese researcher who had graduated from Peking University and was planning to travel to the United States to perform a year-long investigation into photosynthesis and crop production at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
On June 9, 2017, Zhao was planning to visit a real estate agent for an apartment viewing. She never returned to campus or responded to the agent's messages. Her friends and classmates became worried and notified the authorities, leading to a massive manhunt.
The authorities, including the FBI, worked together to locate Zhao. They found a security camera video showing Zhao speaking to a person at a bus stop, who then drove away in a black Saturn Astra. Despite the video, the investigators couldn't discern the license plate number of the vehicle.
A resident of the area, Brian Christensen, was found to own a matching vehicle. He was interviewed and initially claimed to have no memory of what he was doing the day Zhao disappeared. However, he later changed his story, admitting to picking up Zhao and taking her to his apartment against her will.
The case took a turn when Christensen's girlfriend, Teresa, wore a wire during a memorial walk for Zhao. Christensen was heard admitting to Teresa that he had met Zhao, taken her to his apartment, and held her there against her will.
In 2019, Christensen was formally accused of Zhao's disappearance. He was found guilty but the jury couldn't reach a consensus on his punishment. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Zhao's body was never found, and the case remains unresolved.
1. The speaker's name is Lisbeth.
2. Lisbeth is sharing a story about a case that occurred in 2017.
3. The case is about a Chinese researcher named Jinjin who was studying at the University of Illinois.
4. Jinjin disappeared on June 9, 2017, while planning to move to an apartment.
5. She was last seen at a bus stop and was supposed to visit a real estate agent.
6. Her disappearance was reported to the authorities around 9:00 p.m.
7. The disappearance immediately became big news in China and the USA.
8. The university community mobilized to find Jinjin, leading to collaboration between the University of Illinois' police department and the FBI.
9. A reward of about $10,000 was offered for information leading to the investigation, which later increased to $50,000.
10. The Chinese student population organized search groups but couldn't find any leads.
11. A video from a security camera showed Jinjin being approached by a car, but the license plate number couldn't be discerned.
12. After a long investigation, 58 vehicles with the same color and model were identified.
13. Among the suspects, Brain Christensen's vehicle was registered.
14. Christensen was a student at the University of Illinois at the time of Jinjin's disappearance.
15. He was interviewed on June 12, 2017, and initially denied any involvement.
16. However, during a second interview, Christensen admitted to picking up Jinjin at the bus stop and taking her to his apartment against her will.
17. Christensen was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 12, 2019.
18. Jinjin's body was never found as Christensen claimed to have dismembered it.
19. Christensen had also intended to abduct another woman in the same way he took Jinjin, but she refused and walked away from his car.
20. Christensen's psychological problems were revealed after his trial, but the university could not be held responsible as it couldn't be proven that he was not receiving adequate psychological support.