Case of Zhang Yingying: Family of murdered Chinese scholar leaves US again without her remains

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Now to the case of Zhang Yingying, a Chinese scholar who was kidnapped and murdered in the U.S. in 2017. Her parents say they remain hopeful that their daughter's remains will be found. They left the U.S. on Thursday but say they will return if new developments come up. CGTN's Dan Williams was at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to see them off.

DAN WILLIAMS CHICAGO "Three months after arriving in the United States, the family of Zhang Yingying depart 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 9th, 2017.

In July this year, 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.

A week after the trial, Zhang's family were told what Christensen had told his lawyers that he had placed Zhang's body 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 remain hopeful, authorities will still find their daughter.

ZHANG RONGGAO ZHANG YINGYING'S FATHER "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."

DAN WILLIAMS CHICAGO "So once again, Zhang Yingying's family depart the United States without their daughter. This horrifying chapter may have closed, with justice having been served. But Zhang's family have not given up hope that their daughter's remains will one day be returned home to China. Dan Williams, CGTN, Chicago."