Chicago, USA - Nov 13, 2017
1. Various of Zhang Yingying's family, staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago at airport
2. Various of Zhang Yingying's mother sobbing
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Ronggao, father of Zhang Yingying:
"Because, when Yingying's mother was at home, she was not in good health, and it's hard for her to come here. She is in poor health now."
4. Various of Zhang Yingying's family, staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago at airport
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Ronggao, father of Zhang Yingying:
"Up to now, when the case will be tried is still unknown, and when would we hear from her? We've been waiting here, waiting and waiting."
6. Zhang Yingying's family, staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago at airport
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Ronggao, father of Zhang Yingying:
"[We are] in agony here."
8. Various of Zhang Yingying's mother crying out, her family, staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago at airport
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yu Peng, deputy consul general, consulate general, China:
"The family are back just for getting some rest. It's temporary. We won't stop urging the U.S. to expedite the proceedings."
10. Various of Zhang Yingying's family, staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago at airport
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yu Peng, deputy consul general, consulate general, China:
"From the perspective of the Consulate General, we concern about this case from beginning to end. We will keep a close watch on the progress of the case, and we will do our best to bring the criminal to justice as soon as possible."

FILE: Champaign-Urbana, USA - Date Unknown
12. Various of poster for looking for Zhang Yingying
13. Courthouse building exterior
14. Sign of courthouse

The family of missing Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying returned to China on Monday after they stayed in the United States for more than five months.

The 26-year-old visiting scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), was last seen entering a black Saturn Astra car driven by 28-year-old Brendt Christensen on June 9.

The staff from China's Consulate General in Chicago saw Zhang's family off at the O'Hare International Airport.

The family had been in the U.S. since Zhang Yingying's disappearance in June. Zhang Ronggao, father of Zhang Yingying, said that they decided to return to China and wait for the progress of the case at home, because Zhang Yingying's mother is in poor health now.

"Because, when Yingying's mother was at home, she was not in good health, and it's hard for her to come here. She is in poor health now," explained Zhang Ronggao.

"Up to now, when the case will be tried is still unknown, and when would we hear from her? We've been waiting here, waiting and waiting," he added.

They family will come back to the U.S. when new progress is made in the case, or the American law enforcement agencies find out the whereabouts of the missing scholar.

Yu Peng, deputy consul general of China's Consulate General in Chicago, said The family are back just for getting some rest. "It's temporary. We won't stop urging the U.S. to expedite the proceedings," he said.

"From the perspective of the Consulate General, we concern about this case from beginning to end. We will keep a close watch on the progress of the case, and we will do our best to bring the criminal to justice as soon as possible," added Yu.

Police on June 30 arrested Christensen on charges of kidnapping Zhang Yingying, but Zhang's whereabouts remains unknown. Based on the facts unearthed during the ongoing investigation, the FBI believes Zhang is no longer alive.

Preliminary hearing will be held on Feb. 12, 2018, and the final ruling of the case will be on Feb. 27, 2018. If convicted of the charge, Christensen will face death penalty or mandatory life in prison.