Zhang Yingying’s family arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. /CGTN Photo
Three months after arriving in the United States, the family of late Chinese visiting schilor Zhang Yingying departs for a second time, and again without their daughter. The family flew out of Chicago's O' Hare airport having arrived in May ahead of the lengthy murder trial. They were first in Illinois two years ago following the disappearance of their daughter in Champaign, Illinois, on June 9, 2017.
In July this year, American Brendt Christensen was found guilty of kidnapping and killing Zhang and was sentenced to life in prison, although he was spared the death penalty. During the trial, the family heard in detail how Christensen brutally tortured Zhang before killing her.
Zhang’s family departs but is still hopeful that her remains will be found. /CGTN Photo
A week after the trial, Zhang’s family was told what Christensen had told his lawyers that he had placed Zhang’s remains in three separate garbage bags and put them in a dumpster outside his apartment. If true, her remains would likely be in a landfill and almost impossible to locate.
But the family remains hopeful that authorities will still find their daughter.
"First of all, I would like to thank those who have helped us. I really had hoped that we could bring my daughter home this time. Although I have not been able to bring my daughter back, I believe that the U.S. government has the ability and will definitely find Yingying," Zhang's father, Zhang Ronggao told CGTN before he left.
This horrifying chapter may have closed, with justice having been served. But Zhang's family has not given up hope that her remains will one day be returned home to China.