The family of a Chinese student presumed kidnapped in Illinois have asked US President Donald Trump to provide additional resources to help find her.
Zhang Yingying Nike ACG Pas Cher , a 26-year-old visiting scholar at the University of Illinois from southeast China, disappeared on June 9. Police believe Zhang is dead, although no body has been found.
Brendt Christensen, a former master’s student at the university, has been charged with her abduction. Christensen, 28 Nike PG 2 Pas Cher , pleaded not guilty to kidnapping last month and is due to stand trial in September.
Zhang Yingying’s father, Zhang Ronggao, cited the US president’s own role as a father in a letter he sent to Trump earlier this month. It was read out by Zhang’s boyfriend Hou Xiaolin at a news conference on Tuesday.
“As a loving father to your own children, you can understand what we are going through,” the letter said. “We fervently request that you direct all available federal law enforcement and investigatory resources be used to find our daughter as soon as possible.”
Hou also told reporters at the news conference in Champaign, Illinois Nike Air Humara Pas Cher , that he and the family would not be returning to China until Zhang is found.
An online fundraising platform has collected more than US$137,000 to support the family’s stay in the United States.
Hou expressed his frustration at the pace of the search. With the missing woman’s parents standing nearby during the news conference, Hou said her family and friends “feel helpless” because they don’t know when their ordeal will end.
“Yingying is a kind, optimistic, diligent and brave girl,” Hou said. “She would not give up on anything or anybody as long as there was a glimmer of hope. So we will never give up on her Nike Air Foamposite One Pas Cher , either.”
Hou said investigators shared “good news” about the evidence they’ve collected, but no details and no breakthrough yet on where Zhang might be.
Hou said Zhang’s father walks to his daughter’s old apartment and stays there for hours.
“I never asked him why. But I think this is the only way he has now to cure his wound