The suspect shot Mr. Thomas and fled the scene, running Westbound. Darker colors represent the lowest and highest rates of diabetes prevalence in Illinois. As a result, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 18, 2019. [2][27], During questioning on June 15, Christensen admitted that he had given an Asian female a ride,[12] but said that he dropped her off after only a few blocks when a wrong turn caused her to panic. Click here to see our subscription options. After resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, Mr. Ledbetter was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. [10], On the afternoon of June 9, 2017, Zhang was traveling on a Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) bus in Urbana, Illinois, to an off-campus apartment complex where she was planning to sign a new apartment lease. This interactive murder mystery event will have you questioning everyone, looking for clues, eavesd!! She . Written August 14, 2019. [12] Christensen, born June 30, 1989, is a former Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois. DAndre Miller, 34, of Champaign, awaiting trial for murder. Griffet is also assigned by his department to the U.S. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes, Marianne Williamson begins longshot 2024 challenge to Biden. Tommy O'Connor. "We're in a war when you think of homicide as a conflict, and we don't have enough boots on the ground," Hargrove said. "Magnificent Musical Pilgrimage" A Joint Concert by the Chamber Singers and Guitar Ensemble. Description: Champaign Police Officer Robert Tatman, service badge #80, was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop. 217-403-6904 (fax). Nobody sits down and talks through a disagreement or tries to work out a compromise. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. It may be three of your friends from the neighborhood, and you decide to bond together and look out for each other, he said. [29][28] Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres said that there was no "combination of conditions" where Christensen was not a danger to the community. Stateman Hoffs life was cut short when a fight broke out at a party in northwest Champaign in 2016. [44] Christensen was transferred to USP Coleman II in Florida in early 2020. [2][33] Christensen had no prior criminal record and no record of disciplinary problems at the university. Dan Morgan, of the Urbana Police Department, is hopeful that new DNA evidence will lead to the person who killed 21-year-old University of . Cain, was transported to the Champaign County Jail where he will remain. . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Christensen lured Zhang into his car at a bus stop on campus posing as a police officer with the promise of a ride after she missed a bus, but then took her to his apartment where he raped and murdered her while his wife was out of town for the weekend. Yingying Zhang (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhng Yngyng) (December 21, 1990 June 9, 2017) was born in the city of Nanping, Fujian Province, to Ronggao Zhang and Lifeng Ye. Latest I-72 Champaign Illinois News Reports. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. On June 30, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested and charged Christensen in federal court. Front Desk: 217-351-4545 DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) A Champaign man has been convicted for his role in the murder of two men in Danville more than five years ago. Judge Roger Webber said surveillance video from the area where Darin Mitchell, 48, of Champaign, was shot on Aug. 23 . This afternoon, Isaiah Depriest Cain (pictured), 28, of Champaign, surrendered to Champaign Police after a warrant had been issued for his arrest for First-Degree Murder in connection to the shooting death of Scott Roth, 21, of Champaign. UPDATE: Tornado watch issued until 3 p.m. Roselle man in custody in 2021 shooting of North Prospect Avenue motorist, Good Morning, Illini Nation: Big Ten standings update, Epps 'doing better' after hospitalization, Bob's buzzer beaters | 'What a game. ", "Defense Attorney: 'Brendt Christensen Killed Yingying Zhang', "The Chilling Murder of a Chinese Student on a US Campus, and Why Justice Is Elusive", "Grand jury indicts former U. of I. physics student in Chinese scholar's kidnapping", "Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences: College of ACES, University of Illinois", "FBI Investigates Chinese Woman's Disappearance as Kidnapping", "United States of America vs. Brendt A. Christensen, Jury Trial (Volume 8A)", "MTD: It's wrong to blame bus driver who didn't stop for scholar", United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, "Surveillance Video of Missing Student Yingying Zhang", "FBI offers up to $10,000 reward for info leading to missing scholar", "Chinese UI students helping with search for missing countrywoman", "Missing student's family arrives in US, FBI offers reward- World Chinadaily.com.cn", "Updated: Separate $40,000 reward announced in case of missing UI scholar", "Missing UI scholar's family 'will not leave without her', "Missing UI scholar's family appeals to Trump for help finding her", "FBI investigating possible sightings of missing Illinois student", "Salem Police Say Asian Woman Seen In Salem Last Month Wasn't Missing Kidnap Victim", "University of Illinois increasing security on campus following kidnapping", "One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Commencement", "Christensen's ex-wife testifies about marital issues", "Prosecutor: Suspect in Chinese student's kidnapping discussed 'ideal victim', "Bail denied for suspect in kidnapping of U of I scholar", "Brendt Christensen, accused killer of Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, laughed about how he 'chopped her head off', girlfriend says", "Zhang Yingying killed more details exposed! Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Champaign is 1 in 142 and property crime is 1 in 65. Mr. Hobbs, of Champaign, died on Jan. 24, 2019, from gunshots he received inside a home in the 800 block of Fairoaks Drive in Champaign. Michigan leads Illinois 23-21 with 7:50 left in the first half. Dinner is included and a cash bar will be available. He had been physically battered and was without a pulse. The circumstances of Mary Ann Becker's death resulted in a homicide investigation involving multiple police agencies. Bob . She was the daughter of the late Alfred and Bessie Maurer. 17 people, including teenagers, lost their lives. [7] B. The Champaign Police Department has made an arrest in a July 14, 2022, shooting death investigation, officially ruling it a Homicide. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Date of Occurrence: October 30, 2018, at approximately 8:44 p.m. [42][43] In October 2019, Christensen was transferred to FTC Oklahoma City for evaluation and processing. Evidence suggests that Mr. Simmons death was a homicide, and is believed to have occurred within a 24-hour period of him being found. Mr. Beasley was found in the street with apparent gunshot wounds. [50], The case was re-enacted as "Far From Home" on the Investigation Discovery television network true crime series See No Evil in season 6, episode 5 (2020).[51]. Maywood Source: Wikipedia User Boscophotos | CC BY-SA 3.0 Overall SnackAbility 5 /10 Population: 23,277 The rate for violent crimes including rape, homicide, robbery and aggravated assault was 406.9 per 100,000. Previously, he was a news producer and manager at the NBC station in Dallas, where he won 7 Emmy awards. The information below is shared with hope to gain new information from the public concerning unsolved homicide investigations. Christensen was tried and convicted of one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to agents of the FBI, but the jury deadlocked on whether or not to impose the death penalty. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that on . Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Homicide of Montrez Vonner Date of Occurrence: March 11, 2018, at approximately 1:15 a.m. Description: An officer was flagged down to check on an individual who had been found unconscious behind a building in the 00-100 block of E. Springfield Avenue. Adams County. Date of Occurrence: Found March 18, 2012 Feb. 23: Tenesha Jenkins, 34, beaten and smothered in her home in the 2200 block of Dale Drive, Champaign; Antoine Craig,38, of Champaign, awaiting trial for murder. Champaign Police contacted the father of the reported missing juvenile, who informed police the juvenile left the familys residence at approximately 5 p.m. The room looked nice but the halls to the room were also dark . [26], Investigators interviewed Christensen on June 12, 2017, and inspected his car. WRSP/WCCU Fox Illinois provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Springfield and . What a game', 'Craziness' of Illini helps secure double overtime win, Editorial | White Castle ruling leaves bad taste in business community's mouth, New Illini-centered name, image, likeness collective targets big-dollar donations, Man charged in connection with 35 pounds of cannabis in his home. Date of Occurrence: October 13, 2018, at approximately 1:30 a.m. Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. An Illinois man convicted of killing Yingying Zhang, a Chinese international student studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison. He sent the pants to the Illinois State Police lab and they confirmed that it (came from) Keonte Campbell, said Newell, calling that just one significant piece of evidence that enabled police to link him to the shooting. Born in Vietnam, Reginald is a graduate of the . Location of Occurrence: 700 block of Hickory St., Champaign. Most officers dont even carry 50 bullets on their person, said Champaign police Sgt. AUTHOR TO TALK ABOUT 'BUCKET LIST' BOOK. St. Louis experienced its highest murder rate in 50 years. Date of Occurrence: July 1, 2003, at approximately 8:54p.m. As we dive into a new year, Hoff wants to see the community, police, and organizations working for change on the ground level to form a stronger bond. There was a fire reported at his. In Illinois, the homicide rate was 9.1 per 100,000 people, the highest rate since 1996. Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. . Date of Occurrence: December 17, 2012, at approximately 7:22 p.m. Date/Time of Occurrence: November 25, 1967, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Three At-Large Champaign City Council Seats Attract Eight Candidates In April 2nd Election; Danville's Four Mayoral Candidates Present Cases For Fighting Crime, Boosting Economy; Election 2019: Community Questionnaires Answered By Central Illinois Candidates; Election 2019: Champaign Mayoral Candidate Cobbs Says, "We Need To Lift Everybody . The task force took nearly 100 guns off the street last year. The 2019 Champaign crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Dave Griffet, a police officer for 30 years. 17 people, including teenagers, lost their lives. There were 13 homicides in Danville in 2020, or 17.4 per 100,000 people -- well more than double the 6.5 per 100,000 national murder rate. Super 8 by Wyndham in Champaign, IL. This week, the man accused of raping and murdering Wesselman was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Champaign, IL 61820, Emergency: 9-1-1 A 21-year-old Champaign man was shot and killed early Sunday in north Champaign. The investigation revealed the victims were outside of a private residence standing near a parked car when they were shot by unknown assailant(s) from an open area across the street. [15][2] On June 17, Zhang's father, a paternal aunt (her father's sister-in-law), and her boyfriend arrived in Champaign to confer with authorities and to aid in the search. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021. [10] After picking up Zhang later that morning and taking her back to his apartment, Christensen choked, raped, and stabbed her in his bedroom before dragging her to his bathroom where he beat her with a baseball bat and decapitated her. You have permission to edit this article. 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Jackson is described as a Black male, 511, approximately 165 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Chicago Tribune. But criminologists noted that nationally, not all violent crimes increased, and property crime the most common type of crime actually decreased by 8 percent. [39][4] During sentencing deliberations, the jury could not unanimously agree to sentence Christensen to death. Upon arrival, officers discovered Mr. Ledbetter who was unresponsive near a park bench. July 27: Richard J. Wright, 23, of Champaign; died from stabbing about 3 a.m. at 1404 Silver Street; no arrests. Champaign, IL: Yorkville, IL: U.S. Avg: Difference: Taxes Overall: Federal Income Tax: State Income Tax: Sales Tax (State & Local) Sales Tax on Food: Real property tax on median home: RE trans fee on median home (over 13 yrs) Auto sales taxes (amortized over 6 years) Annual Vehicle Property Taxes on $25K Car: Annual Auto Registration Keonte Campbell is expected to be returned to Urbana later this month to face prosecution on the murder charges.