The family of slain Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang has refiled a lawsuit against counselors at the University of Illinois – this time at the state level.
Zhang’s estate wanted to hold the two social workers, Jennifer Maupin and Tom Miebach, accountable by filing negligence and wrongful death charges against the employees.
The lawsuit stems from what was said in counseling sessions at the U of I clinic by the man convicted of kidnapping and killing Yingying, Brendt Christensen.
While attending counseling sessions, Christensen admitted to having substance abuse problems with alcohol and prescription drugs and that he was experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Despite these admissions, Christensen was allowed to continue working at the U of I.
Christensen further described in sessions that he developed an obsession with serial killers and his wife had left him, according to the lawsuit.
Christensen also admitted to having purchased items that could be used in the transport and disposal of a body.
According to court documents, Zhang’s estate wants to hold the two social workers, Jennifer Maupin and Tom Miebach, and Christensen accountable by filing negligence and wrongful death charges against the employees.
The estate of Yingying Zhang also has state claims for negligence against the social workers and for battery against Christensen, which remain pending.
The body of Yingying Zhang has yet to be recovered.
Christensen is serving out a life sentence in Kentucky after being convicted of killing her in June 2019, two years after Yingying