The American kidnapper and killer of Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying has been sentenced to life in prison, without parole. A judge announced the verdict Thursday in the state of Illinois, where 26-year-old Zhang disappeared a little over two years ago. Our correspondent Dan Williams reports from outside the court house.

Arriving at Peoria Federal Courthouse one final time. Brendt Christensen knew there was a chance the jury would decide his fate this day. And that it did.

Having already found Christensen guilty of kidnapping and killing Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, the jury had to decide whether Christensen would spend the rest of his life behind bars without parole­ or sentence him to death.

After more than eight hours of deliberation,­ the jury announced it could not reach a unanimous decision. So the lesser sentence was imposed. Christensen's life would be spared. In the gallery, Christensen's family hugged and wept in relief. While Zhang's family sat in silence.

ZHANG RONGGAO ZHANG YINGYING'S FATHER "The jury has spoken and the trial is over, but Yingying is not home. Our goal is and has always been to bring Yingying home. We ask the defendant to unconditionally tell us what he knows about Yingying's location. If you have any humanity left in your soul, please help end our torment, please help us bring Yingying home."

HOU XIAOLIN ZHANG YINGYING'S FIANCE "The result today appeared to encourage people to do crimes. And me myself will never agree with that."

The U.S. state of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011. But as this was being tried in a federal court, a death sentence could be imposed but only if jurors unanimously agreed.

JOHN MILHISER US ATTORNEY FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS "We would not have asked for the death penalty, if we did not think it was appropriate. Given the facts in this case. Given what this defendant did to Yingying."

Christensen will now spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole. His family left the court without comment. Zhang Yingying disappeared on June ninth, 2017. She was last seen getting into Christensen's black Saturn Astra. This video footage proved key for investigators. As did the cooperation of Christensen's former girlfriend Terra Bullis. Her decision to wear a wiretap allowed the FBI to make recordings of Christensen boasting about how he killed Zhang. Zhang's body was never recovered.

DAN WILLIAMS PEORIA, ILLINOIS "Zhang Yingying's disappearance just over two years ago generated global headlines. Although this chapter now comes to a close, for Zhang's family, the pain of Christensen's actions is not relieved."

Christensen will now begin his life sentence. He will die in prison. For Zhang's family, their loss remains immeasurable. Dan Williams, CGTN Peoria, Illinois.