Aaron Eades
WCIA News
Champaign, IL, United States
Contact Aaron
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Aaron:
Students required to move off campus
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The UI is requiring all students still living on campus to move home if they can. They’re asking those in residence halls to plan on moving between now and March 28. Depending on which dorm a student lives in, there are different instructions for the process. For more information, click here. → Read More
Henslick found guilty of killing Holly Cassano
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A jury has determined Friday that Michael Henslick is guilty of killing Holly Cassano in her Mahomet home in 2009. It took less than two hours for the jury to decide the verdict. They found the murder was accompanied by “exceptionally cruel or brutal behavior, indicative of wanton cruelty.” → Read More
Henslick trial: Closing arguments
Visit the post for more. → Read More
Jury sees Henslick confession video
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Jurors in Holly Cassano’s murder trial saw videos of the suspect confessing to the crime. In an interrogation video with Champaign County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Michael Henslick said he stabbed Cassano. He is accused of killing her in her Mahomet home in 2009. If he is found guilty, he could spend […] → Read More
Former Boy Scouts leader indicted on child pornography charges
Updated: Wednesday, November 6, 3:25 p.m. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A grand jury returned an indictment that charges Milton Forsberg, 79 of Champaign, with trafficking child pornography; one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography. He was previously arrested and charged on a criminal complaint on October 16 and appeared in court October […] → Read More
Three people shot in overnight shootings
Danville police are investigating two shootings. The first one happened late last night on Chandler Street. Police say a woman told officers she ran towards the hospital after she was shot in her back. Investigators talked to a second shooting victim who told them he got a ride to the hospital after he was shot […] → Read More
Christensen gets life
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Brendt Christensen was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of release, in federal court Thursday. June 24, he was found guilty of kidnapping and killing UI scholar Yingying Zhang and lying to the FBI about it. Because the jury was not able to make a unanimous finding, the […] → Read More
Jurors confused about deliberation instructions
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The jury in the sentencing phase of Brendt Christensen’s trial continues deliberating after going over evidence for three hours Wednesday. They started at 9 am, Thursday. Court reconvened without the jury since there seemed to be more confusion over their instructions. On a note to the judge, they asked what […] → Read More
Insight into what jury must consider
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The jury may only have two sentencing options, but making a decision isn’t as simple as just picking one. They have a whole checklist of items to consider and it could take them hours to get through. It’s what’s called a “weighing” process. Jury instructions tell them how they have […] → Read More
Jury decides life or death
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Wednesday, jurors in Brendt Christensen’s trial will be given the responsibility of determining his fate: death or life in prison. The government has three statutory aggravating factors: Yingying Zhang’s death happened during the commission of another crime; that it was heinous, cruel or depraved and it was planned or premeditated. […] → Read More
Closing arguments in Christensen’s sentencing begin Wednesday
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Life or death. That’s the question the jury for Brendt Christensen will have to answer Wednesday. After more than a month of testimony and evidence, federal prosecutors and the defense team have rested their cases for good. Christensen kidnapped and killed UI scholar Yingying Zhang two years ago. He faces […] → Read More
Defense seeks delay of sentencing
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Brendt Christensen’s attorneys have asked for either a delay in the sentencing phase until July 29, or for the government to be blocked from presenting new evidence, claiming it will take 85 hours of work to translate videotaped interviews of #YingyingZhang family members. → Read More
Ex-girlfriend continues testimony
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) — Day 7 of Brendt Christensen’s trial begins with his ex-girlfriend, Terra Bullis, continuing her testimony. Christensen is on trial for the 2017 murder of UI scholar Yingying Zhang. FBI recordings, from a wire worn by Bullis, are played in court. Christensen is heard telling Bullis the car is a false lead, […] → Read More
Day 5: Christensen trial
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) — Testimony continues on day 5 of Brendt Christensen’s murder trial. He’s accused of kidnapping and killing UI scholar Yingying Zhang in June 2017. Tuesday, a former maintenance worker at the apartment complex where Christensen lived with his wife took the stand and testified he put in a work order for grout […] → Read More
FBI interview played in court
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) — An interview with the FBI sheds light on Brendt Christensen’s possible intentions in allegedly kidnapping UI scholar Yingying Zhang. The video shown in court was of FBI Special Agent Anthony Manganaro and UIPF Detective Eric Stiverson interviewing Christensen in the early morning hours of June 15, 2017. NOTE: The following are […] → Read More
Defense admits Christensen killed Zhang
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) -- Opening statements in Brendt Christensen's murder trial began at 9 am, Wednesday. → Read More
Jury selected for Christensen trial
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) -- Jury members for Brendt Christensen's trial have officially been seated. → Read More
Jury pool assembled for Christensen trial
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) -- After six days in court, 70 potential jurors have been qualified to serve on Brendt Christensen's trial. → Read More
Jury selection continues amid concerns about conflicts
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) -- Vetting for qualified potential jurors for Brendt Christensen's trial has entered a sixth day. → Read More
Trial evidence may be hard to hear
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) -- When Brendt Christensen's trial starts next week, everyone in the courtroom could be wearing headphones. → Read More