(Urbana, IL) — The newest charges against the man accused of kidnapping a Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois say he tortured and killed her. A grand jury last week upgraded the charges against Brendt Christensen for the kidnapping of Yingying Zhang back in June. Christensen was in court yesterday to answer to the new charges, he pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors are not charging him with Zhang’s murder, but the new charges of kidnapping resulting in the death, would be enough to earn Christensen the death penalty if he’s convicted.