Summary
Highlights
The interrogators directly confront Christensen, stating they have video evidence of Zhang getting into his car. He initially denies it, then claims he may have confused the dates and might have given a ride to a distressed woman on Saturday, not Friday. He describes the woman as Asian, speaking poor English, and panicking, eventually getting out of his car willingly after he seemingly made a wrong turn.
Christensen struggles to recall specific details about the woman, her appearance, or the exact location where he dropped her off. He claims the car ride lasted less than 5 minutes and was in a residential area north of Loomis Lab. He states she was showing him directions on her phone, but he couldn't understand her. The detectives point out the contradictions in his story, including his initial alibi of being home all day.
The detectives highlight the urgency of finding Zhang, emphasizing her vulnerability, the severity of the weather, and the distress of her family. They suggest he is not being entirely honest and appeal to his empathy, asking him to imagine if his own sister was missing. They reveal they know she searched for 'oneor' (address) on her phone a minute after getting into his car, further undermining his story.
Despite the detectives' emotional appeals and presentation of evidence, Christensen adamantly denies that Zhang remained in his car, insisting she exited on her own and that he drove away. He maintains his story, failing to provide any new information or confess to further involvement.
The video concludes by revealing the horrifying truth uncovered after the interrogation. Bloodstains matching Zhang's DNA were found in Christensen's apartment. He had subjected her to unspeakable violence before killing her. Though her remains were never found, surveillance audio from his girlfriend revealed Christensen confessing to the murder, claiming Zhang was his 13th victim and referencing Ted Bundy. He was convicted in June 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Christensen reiterates his alibi of playing video games and sleeping, making it difficult to account for his time between 2 PM and 3 PM on the day of the disappearance. He mentions trying to find messages as an alibi but fails. He also confirms his wife was out of town in Wisconsin with another man, which he explains was part of their 'open relationship,' though he admits to feeling upset by it.
Special Agent Anthony Monganera and Detective Eric Snipson introduce themselves to Christensen and inform him of his rights, emphasizing that the interview is voluntary. Christensen claims he spent the day at home, playing video games, and cannot provide an alibi for the time of Zhang's disappearance. He explains that agents had previously visited him, inquiring about his black Saturn Astra, which was identified as a rare car linked to the disappearance.
The video introduces Brendt Christensen, a former aspiring physicist who became a kidnapper and murderer. The story begins in June 2017 with the disappearance of Yingying Zhang, a young woman on her way to sign a lease. Christensen was arrested, and the truth began to unfold. He impersonated a police officer to lure Zhang into his car, leading to a shocking interrogation by FBI and detectives.