CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones will honor three Division of Public Safety employees Feb. 24 with the Chancellor’s Medallion for their investigation of the June 2017 disappearance of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.
In addition to many other personnel involved in the investigation, Jones said, the actions and dedication of Sgt. James Carter, telecommunicator Kenny Costa and Det. Eric Stiverson were particularly noteworthy.
Costa pored through a large volume of security camera video to trace Zhang’s path through campus that day before finding footage of her entering a vehicle. Carter noticed the vehicle’s cracked wheel cover – a detail that had eluded others and proved instrumental in identifying the vehicle and its owner. Stiverson’s interview of suspect Brendt Christensen led to the admission that Christensen enticed Zhang to enter his car and ultimately was vital in Christensen’s conviction and sentence of life in prison without parole.
The event takes place Feb. 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Illinois Ballroom of the I Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 S. First St., Champaign. Jones will make remarks at 4 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by Feb. 17.
Editor’s note: For additional information, contact the Special Events Office at specialevents@illinois.edu or 217-333-8834.
