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Brendt Christensen and his father broke down in tears Wednesday as Michael Christensen pleaded with jurors to spare his son's life for killing Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang, saying "he has too much to offer."
The jury deciding Brendt Christensen's fate is preparing for another day of emotional testimony in the death penalty phase of his trial in the murder of Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
"How am I supposed to carry on? I really don't know how to carry on without her," said the mother of YingYing Zhang, the Chinese scholar murdered by Brendt Christensen at the University of Illinois.
A federal judge has denied former University of Illinois doctoral student Brendt Christensen's request to delay sentencing in the kidnapping and murder of visiting Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty in the killing of Marlen Ochoa.
Jon Elliot Poole is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Sound Bar security guard Thurman Bailey on March 8. He was arrested last week by U.S. Marshals in Georgia, where he'd moved after the shooting.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday in the trial of former University of Illinois doctoral student Brendt Christensen, charged with kidnapping and killing Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang in 2017.
A second man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of security guard Thurmond Bailey at Sound Bar nightclub in the River North neighborhood in March.
Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case against former University of Illinois student Brendt Christensen on Friday in the murder of Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
Terra Bullis said she truly cared about Brendt Christensen, but also "cared about this missing person" Yingying Zhang. "And it's incredibly painful," Bullis said.
A group of activists in McHenry County is seeking changes at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, as the parents of 5-year-old A.J. Freund face murder charges in his grisly death.
The FBI is investigating the claim by a former University of Illinois doctoral student that the visiting scholar from China he's charged with killing was his 13th victim, even though no evidence has been found to indicate whether he was telling the truth, an FBI agent testified Monday.
Tyler Bernicky, the son of a Chicago Fire Department lieutenant, is being remembered as a "good kid" who loved being with his family, "happy, laughing."
The federal death penalty trial of a former University of Illinois student accused of killing a visiting Chinese scholar continues on Monday.
Early Saturday morning, Chicago police were called to 79th and Ingleside for a car on fire, but what they found was much more disturbing.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined Yovanny Jadiel Lopez died from lack of oxygen to the brain.
A central Illinois man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of another man will likely spend the rest life behind bars after a judge sentenced him to 70 years in prison.
Documents released Friday detail what Advocate Christ Medical Center did wrong when a baby, cut from his mother's womb, was taken there in April.
Hours of FBI interviews, dozens of pictures and videos; that's what jurors are sifting through in the murder trial for a former University of Illinois student accused of kidnapping and killing Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
After nearly two months on life support, Marlen Ochoa's baby, Yovanny Lopez, has died. Yovanny was cut from his mother's womb, after two women strangled her to steal her baby.
A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of his father in Gary, Indiana, when a robbery turned violent Thursday evening.
A former University of Illinois doctoral student on trial in the killing of a visiting scholar from China bought Drano and garbage bags three days after the slaying, according to testimony Thursday.
For a man who once lived for the spotlight , Simpson has generally kept a low profile since his release from prison in October 2017 after serving nine years for a robbery and kidnapping conviction in Las Vegas. He insisted his conviction and sentence for trying to steal back his own memorabilia were unfair but said: "I believe in the legal system and I honored it. I served my time."
The man who pleaded guilty to introducing a Chicago teenager to a pimp before she was murdered has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
A grieving family is suing the Chicago Police Department, after surveillance video of the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Brittany Hill was leaked on social media.
The victim was reportedly found on the third floor of an apartment building.
Officials have not released the cause of the fire, but neighbors told CBS News Chicago they woke up to a loud blast.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
Ariel Atkins led Chicago (9-28) with a season-high 30 points.
Smith (4-7) pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his career, facing just 23 batters on 80 pitches.
Military members could soon be patrolling city streets in Chicago, as per potential plans from the Trump Administration that Chicago and Illinois leaders have denounced.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon, addressing reports President Trump is planning to send the military to Chicago. Here is the full text of his remarks.
The moves are a part of President Trump's ongoing federal anti-crime crackdown.
At a news conference Monday afternoon on reported plans by President Trump to send the military to Chicago, state and city leaders forcefully rejected the notion. "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was taken into custody Monday by immigration authorities and the Department of Homeland Security said he is being processed for deportation to Uganda.
Many drivers are as frustrated with the unexplained spike in their auto insurance as they are with congestion on the roads.
The Arlington Heights Village Board on Monday night approved a new 5% streaming tax.
Morton Grove slapped the seller with code violations after the sale to the Hovey family was completed, which prevented them from getting a deed.
It turns out what Tom Kuznar of Mount Prospect thought was a small problem is actually a big mess affecting 25,000 taxpayers.
For the past five months, Paul Mitchell has been in talks with Citibank. He turned to CBS News Chicago when Citibank would not refund his money.
Illinois is one of 20 states now suing the Trump administration for withholding grant money for crime victims. In Illinois, $54 million goes to provide services for crime victims. Workers warn many will now be left behind.
A Chicago rock climber was grounded by a scary medical issue — a cyst in her brain. But a friendly face in the operating room helped Sophie Lin get to the gym again.
With school starting next week for thousands of students, health officials are urging parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Chicago public health officials on Tuesday confirmed the city's first three human cases of West Nile virus in 2025.
Sicknesses creep up with kids being in close quarters in school. With that in mind, a grieving Northwest Indiana family wants to share a message about vaccinating children.
A Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty to smuggling lab equipment to Russian companies in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Some of the fans who received the email have long histories with the team, and there are a lot of concerns.
The Board of Trade Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Right now, it is not exactly clear how the tax will be passed onto the consumer. But vaping products and popular Zyn pouches will now be subject to a 45% tax — up from 15%.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has delivered a victory for environmentalists in the battle over the regulation of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.
A Maryland ticket broker is accused of illegally purchasing and reselling hundreds of thousands of tickets for profit, including thousands to Taylor Swift's highly-sought Eras Tour.
President Trump announced this year's "truly exceptional class" of Kennedy Center Honorees and said he will host the annual ceremony himself.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed plans for a July 4, 2026 fight at the White House to mark America's 250th birthday.
Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," after a countdown tease on her website. The release date is now set for Oct. 3.
Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the U.S., while UFC's CEO says the White House may host a July 4 event broadcast on CBS.
Protesters blocked a highway in Tel Aviv, demanding the release of the hostages and an end to the war.
An apartment building fire displaced 12 people on Chicago's Near Northwest Side on Monday night.
Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist has the extended forecast.
The custom-made pearlescent ping-pong table and equipment that Killerspin gifted the pope features his coat of arms.
Researchers say hidden fat — the deep kind found around the stomach and liver — accelerates the aging of the heat and blood vessels.
"Mr. President, do not come to Chicago," said Gov. JB Pritzker. "You are neither wanted here, nor needed here."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon, addressing reports President Trump is planning to send the military to Chicago. Here is the full text of his remarks.
Officials have not released the cause of the fire, but neighbors told CBS News Chicago they woke up to a loud blast.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
The victim was reportedly found on the third floor of an apartment building.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
In an exclusive interview, a whistleblower said the mental health crews want to work — but are being held back from helping people by limited hours and red tape.
Illinois is one of 20 states now suing the Trump administration for withholding grant money for crime victims. In Illinois, $54 million goes to provide services for crime victims. Workers warn many will now be left behind.
Neighbors in Lincoln Park said mail trucks parked as far as the eye can see along busy Clark Street aren't just taking up valuable parking, but potentially putting students in danger while they walk to school.
This week, Chicago's South and West sides were hit hard by flooding, and experts at the Morton Arboretum are connecting with city and neighborhood groups to help implement solutions.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
Ariel Atkins led Chicago (9-28) with a season-high 30 points.
Smith (4-7) pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his career, facing just 23 batters on 80 pitches.
Head coach Ben Johnson and the coaching staff have a few weeks to work out until that time, and then as Bears camp winds down.
A Chicago woman who is also an experienced and decorated marathon runner has completed a race unlike any other, at the North Pole.
Chicago police are investigating after a large group burglarized the Nordstrom in River North Sunday evening.
At a news conference Monday afternoon on reported plans by President Trump to send the military to Chicago, state and city leaders forcefully rejected the notion. "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
Police said the suspect attempted to flee the scene in a gray sedan and hit a pole.
In just the first six months of the year, the Chicago DEA team seized 1.6 million pills of fentanyl. That is almost three times more than they did all of last year.
A report of an active shooter at Villanova turned out to be a "cruel hoax," according to the university president and Delaware County DA.
