Case 176: Yingying Zhang

DESCRIPTION
On June 9 2017, Yingying Zhang vanished on her way to an appointment in Urbana, Illinois. The Chinese visiting scholar missed her bus and after she failed to return to work that day, her colleagues quickly raised the alarm...
CREDITS
Narration - Anonymous Host
Research & writing - Erin Munro
Creative direction - Milly Raso
Production and music - Mike Migas
Music - Andrew D.B. Joslyn
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[@sitastrange]

This was completely heartbreaking. I hope her family is doing ok today. RIP Yingying.

[@zero_bs_tolerance8646]

She was doing her best to be a good daughter only to encounter a demon. My heart goes out to her loved ones who will never bring her home. Very sad. Thanks and stay safe.

[@MegaDublinguy]

Although I've seen this case covered before, since nobody covers cases better than Casefile in terms of the quality of in-depth research that goes into them apparent from the amount of detail provided in the presentation, along with the excellence of the narration, I am happy to listen again. Somehow there seems to be an added layer of poignance when the victim is from another country. I hope the support that Yingying's family received from the local community in some measure consoled them in their grief.

[@saramorisani]

Exactly!

[@jwest9155]

Agree! Jennifer pan one was my favorite. I love how some of them start off making you think the suspect is the victim and then turns the story upside on its head.

[@sarahcavazos7108]

I remember this happening when I was a sophomore in undergrad at UIUC. I remember seeing her missing posters on storefronts. We were all feeling uneasy after that and I still get chills when I think about it today.

[@nothinglikejamaica6056]

I'm sure I'm addicted to casefile podcast and that voice! Can't sleep without it, then listen to the same episode in the morning because I fall asleep so easily listening to that voice. Thanks for all the work 🙂🐈‍⬛

[@birdswont]

Snap

[@birdswont]

Snap

[@emmairvine75]

Me too 😂

[@yointhebedroom83]

Same here!

[@Fred_and_Brandy]

Me too, lol... I've gone thru them all n have been relistening for 6 months now😅

[@markeywestskies6503]

Yingying's father's inability to sleep and would stand in front of her apt door for hours in desperate hope that she may return...I felt that.

[@blueyoshi8231]

"The twinkling of the stars"......damn didn't that bring on the tears I was barely holding back from the beginning 😭😭😭 RIP Yingying 💜

[@brandyjean7015]

Too bad Brendt's plea deal didn't include: and when you die in prison, your remains will be treated the same, as you treated Yingying's.

[@ravenwaves6785]

This case has always had an impact on me. I may be in another country, but I followed her disappearance. She seemed to be such a driven, talented and disciplined person. To be taken from her family like that by some bum that wanted to be notorious. Funny that I can never remember his name, but will never forget hers. His girlfriend who helped secure the evidence is a legend too. Gross how the defence tried it on with the Adam and Eve esque idea that she tempted him down a dark path. I hope she, and everyone else that was impacted by that reckless idiot is able to find peace.

[@jwest9155]

Is it weird that I’ve listened to EVERY SINGLE podcast since the very first one came out? Lol. Please keep making more podcasts!!

[@dougstyles]

Guess I'm weird too🤣

[@TheInvestiGatorYT]

She was a gorgeous girl, thank you for covering her case.

[@mb-mz4tg]

What a beautiful, wonderful girl. She was an angel during her life too.

[@lovedogshatepeople4340]

I have no life, I get really happy when Casefile episodes are on, thanks again

[@tillymynt9054]

There are a lot of us out here in the same position Mandy , however we can count ourselves lucky to live in these times we have health , shelter and food . Many in the world do not . Big cuddle to you darling

[@lovedogshatepeople4340]

You are so right @Tilly, back at you darling

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Same but yeah at least we are alive have food and shelter etc I have been out once in 18 months and have chronic pancreatitis so in pain a lot and doubled my weight over the last five years - but yes gotta be greatful for at least having the luxury of internet etc

[@birdswont]

@@Jolenesmart1980 good God that sounds so tough.

[@Jolenesmart1980]

@@birdswont it’s not the greatest and that’s not even the half of it I have copd and that just gets worse till basically you die , my own fault for smoking all my life so kids take note!

[@mb-mz4tg]

I was waiting for casefile to cover this story...

[@offroadmaster346]

51:51 for end of ads

[@Jimmytheman1]

Can’t wait to listen to this...I’m your biggest fan anonymous host...Love your work...

[@shakhster8382]

No you’re not I am!

[@dingosmith9932]

@@shakhster8382 no, I am!🙂

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Dingo and shak you have to do an arm wrestle and see who wins lol

[@nickyblue4866]

Nope i am

[@cyn-1776]

I've lived in Champaign Urbana since 1970. Thus case was so heart breaking. Flyers everywhere, seeing family arrive to try to find her. He's a monster. Lived 1 mile from home I grew up in. I wish they could bring her home 😢 RIP Yingying you have touched the world Warrior. You fought hard. 😔

[@evdaribarovski5698]

Omg the bloody psycopath boy just give me give seconds with that .......d I don't think he would be alive he may ask for mercy but mate it's too late no mercy whatsoever. He should have been given the death penalty 300%. That innocent young woman very difficult to hear what he did with her body. My deepest sympathy to her family extremely sad. ☹️☹️☹️

[@buk390]

I really hate these occurrences about bad things happening to young college aged kids going to another country to learn and explore. They’re full of life, don’t know the language. Poor babies.

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

RIP Yingyang x

[@zhouse2472]

Very heartbreaking story due to how good & decent she was and where she came from....and the demonic evilness of this creature and his sordid life. Stories like this always make you see how unfair life can be. Your video made me research more into her and the case....if ever there was an instance to show the differences of these 2 cultures.....this qualifies. This country is saturated w/EVIL. Justice is having him rot in jail. One can only pray for her beautiful, kind soul....and for her family to find peace.

[@veganandlovingit]

you are an idiot, there are monsters in every country and culture

[@dfgiuy22]

I'd agree with Synd, there's @ssholes everywhere. I don't understand how people think other cultures are perfect unlike the one in which they live. Lack of experience? Wilfull ignorance? Stupidity? I don't get it.

[@nancychisholm5399]

May 24 long weekend, Casefile and coffee.....life is good!

[@srahhh]

Why was the death penalty debated by the jury at sentencing if he had already negotiated a plea deal to take the death penalty off the table? Did his answer (i.e. her remains couldn't be recovered) nullify the offer?

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Good point maybe have a search on google about it - let me know if you find anything (I’m lazy today just had my COVID-19 jab the astra zeneka one and feel a bit crap)

[@srahhh]

@@Jolenesmart1980 I think it was my misunderstanding of "immunity agreement". It didn't have to do with the death penalty. "Immunity agreements are contracts between government and witness. The witness gives information and testimony and the government promises not to prosecute." He told his defense team what he did with Yingying's remains several months before the trial. His defense team then told the police/prosecutors, with the "immunity agreement" that giving them that info wouldn't add to his prosecution. It seems kind of weird, but I think they were just trying to do anything to find her remains, and when his answer was useless they just had to sit on the information until after the trial. I hope you feel better soon :) I had my second Pfizer about two weeks ago. Be nice to yourself, and have a lazy day or two!

[@Jolenesmart1980]

@@srahhh ahh ok thank you for checking all that out! And thanks I’m feeling a bit better and having lovely lazy days

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

Glad he got found guilty on all conts, monster

[@cherylmoore3349]

Interesting story disturbing and sad

[@modestferala1488]

Again, like every other case, i had to google the names; the victim, the monster, the family... yingying zhang was such a bright beautiful woman.. and that monster just hits different, he looks like any other man nothing’s off about him!

[@texastea5686]

Omg her father's televised plea 🥺☹️💔

[@nickyblue4866]

Hey could you do a video on grant amato?

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Yeah that would be good god he was such an ugly egg headed shmuck ! That clip of the woman when she says aww my poor baby about something - she’s so fkin fake man!

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

Serial killers are always mild mannered dont be fooled pole

[@donnablack6280]

Is there any actual evidence?

[@nickyblue4866]

His car picking her up and him admitting to her murder to his gf is pretty solid evidence he did it.

[@rabh9338]

CCTV footage showing him picking her up from the side of the road after driving past her minutes earlier

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Check out the cctv footage of his car and him picking her up and also on some videos they show him telling his girlfriend about it on a walk

[@Itoshimi]

“Donna”, if someone is caught in camera kidnapping someone and then the same person is caught on a recording confessing to the crime, is that really not enough?

[@Maligroot]

Thanks Mate 👍 off to 🛌 , never disappoint 🇦🇺

[@cynthiagibson3069]

I concur for myself

[@SpicyTexan64]

I just start delivering with Door Dash last week! I love it.

[@jeffchapel79]

Dude loves saying Ying Ying 🤣🤪

[@donnablack6280]

I got the surreal feeling this case was about a panda 😅

[@nickyblue4866]

@@donnablack6280 ming ming the panda

[@MR-pv7qg]

Imbeciles!!!!!!

[@dougstyles]

Why'd she get in the car..😔😔

[@MR-pv7qg]

I know ........ Can't stop thinking about her, I'm speechless.

[@icequeen9417]

Trust , she must of thought all white pple are good pple.

[@Jolenesmart1980]

Will try not to point out when you put an A randomly a in a sentence a ok lol from a Jolene

[@nickyblue4866]

Eh

[@bonniehocking7694]

LOL a

[@hbk441]

😁 I've noticed he a-does a-this lol

[@Jolenesmart1980]

@@hbk441 yeah a he a does a it a quite a lot lol! I pointed it out before and got jumped on for it so trying to play nice now haha

[@Jolenesmart1980]

@@nickyblue4866 he adds a before some words when it’s not needed

[@Tammywentwalkabout.]

This would never happen in mainland China.

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Who's first

[@lnmemoryofjohnmordaunt7386]

Not me, that's for sure

[@claudedietrich8654]

each of those podcasts is painful to listen to. 1. delivery is monotonous and tedious. 2. ads last for ever. 3. research does not go beyond basic stuff readily available online. Podcasts or youtube videos on the same topic are often eons better.

[@andypat5405]

Don't listen then.

[@alinazang6651]

Thank you for respecting YingYing, and her family, by sharing this story but not broadcasting the detail to feed the bloodlust of some audiences.