Case 176: Yingying Zhang
Added 2021-05-15 08:04:05 +0000 UTCEmily posted about the incident on Facebook, where it quickly spread among campus forums. She described the man and his ploy, but couldn’t recall the make or model of his car - simply referring to it as a “black sedan”. She warned other students: “Don’t get into the car even if they claim to be police or have a badge.”
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Erin Munro - research, writing
Milly Raso - creative direction
Mike Migas - production, music
Andrew D.B. Joslyn - music
Comments
Just on the off chance Mike sees this, is there any chance that the music *musics could be placed (up for sale / download) for patreon members. Loving the backing music as it really adds to the stories, I personally, would like to support the podcast more, in sure more would too, with a purchase of the music (Just throwing it out there) 🤔
Michael Sutheran
2021-05-24 22:24:56 +0000 UTCWhoa, I remember when this case broke, but it seems coverage faded pretty quick in my area of the states, at least, or perhaps more horrible shit eclipsed it? But wow, what a shit-bird loser Brendt is. I hope dying in a concrete box hurts. This case is unbelievably heartbreaking, and I couldnt help but have that same “hollow stomach” feeling, thinking about the family of Karmein Chan, when hearing the pleas of Yingying’s family. Great job everyone! ❤️
Jason Colombo
2021-05-18 14:30:17 +0000 UTCThis has been one of my favourite episodes! The story telling was brilliant, and I loved the time jump, I think I audibly gasped on the train when it unfolded.. the incident itself was horrifying, Megan is an absolute hero, I’m still so sad for Yingying and her loving family.. ps, music is great!
Karen Hall
2021-05-18 11:12:36 +0000 UTCWell, that’s horrific :(
Maya George
2021-05-17 21:09:16 +0000 UTCI'm just going to add, as far as the music, Mike dont change a thing!! 💕
Leah Budd
2021-05-17 20:46:45 +0000 UTCbeing very familiar with the landfill she is in I can tell you it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack
Leah Budd
2021-05-17 20:44:57 +0000 UTCI attended U of I for college and hearing the familiar locations, street names and bus lines that I've seen a million times made this so much more chilling. I haven't been to Champaign in years but vaguely recall the case. So heartbreaking 💔 as always, you all covered it so respectfully.
Ruth A Davis
2021-05-17 13:28:48 +0000 UTCGreat structure again in this one. The 'twist' was set up well. Another sad story.
Charles Comiskey
2021-05-17 11:43:16 +0000 UTCI understand what they were trying to do narratively, it was just too unclear what was happening when, that the investigation into him and Megan's involvement was actually already happening before he confessed to her at the vigil. It sounded like it was much later and so didn't make sense to me at that point that she thought recording him would help clear his name when he'd already told her he was a serial killer. It was just a little fuzzier than usual.
Emily
2021-05-17 08:07:39 +0000 UTCI think it follows the usual progression of a Casefile case, where they reveal the main suspect or the perpetrator and then go back to explain how they narrowed in on that person or that person's background. That way you can see the nuance of the case first, then the investigation.
Demi
2021-05-17 07:50:01 +0000 UTCThanks Mike, I love the music in the podcasts. Your suggestion helped greatly! : )
Estelle Dougan
2021-05-17 05:59:01 +0000 UTCYes Alexandra, please keep it with only narration, in 99% of instances audio-recordings are either difficult to understand (for non english natives) or don‘t really offer insight anyway.
David Rogosaroff
2021-05-17 05:34:51 +0000 UTCWhat a complete piece of garbage, wow. Her poor family.
Amber
2021-05-16 23:43:49 +0000 UTCI love the background music. Mike is so talented and enhances every episode with his music. I don’t even hear some of it without headphones, it’s just subtlety in the background!
Megan
2021-05-16 14:14:48 +0000 UTCThank you Maya.
Casefile True Crime
2021-05-16 09:13:44 +0000 UTCHi Estelle, this is the style of production that we chose to do from the beginning, with myself and Andrew writing music for the show. However, I can understand that it can be distracting for some people. I mix the show for headphone listening, so if you find the background music distracting I would suggest listening on speakers (the music will be inaudible) or using over-ear open headphones, rather than earbuds or headphones that isolate your hearing. I hope this helps, thank you so much for your support. Mike.
Casefile True Crime
2021-05-16 09:13:05 +0000 UTCHi Paul, that's a fair point. I had now replaced that part with something less distracting. Mike.
Casefile True Crime
2021-05-16 09:10:15 +0000 UTCI honestly don’t know what’s going on with the sound. I had no issue with the last episode and I was coming here to say how much the music this episode was killing it, so to speak. I really liked the music. I will say I listened without headphones for the most part but still! Great episode, everyone. The case itself is so sad. In terms of finding the body, I was really shocked and felt despair over money becoming an issue when trying to locate the body. I’m not there and I’m not part of this so I can appreciate it’s easy to have thoughts and feelings about it but it seems extra heartbreaking?? I really feel for YingYing’s family ❤️
Maya George
2021-05-16 07:02:03 +0000 UTCI have to say I almost fainted when I opened up and saw this case as it happened where I live. I don't think anyone here has come to accept this anymore over time. We are so used to the students coming and going from the University of Illinois and have always felt it to be a safe area. No one could have imagined what transpired. They say time heals all wounds, I'm not so sure about that😔
Leah Budd
2021-05-16 05:59:23 +0000 UTCThis poor young woman. What a loss. Imagine what she might have gone on to achieve. I’m so glad the community rallied around her family. May they find peace.
Stacey Carson
2021-05-16 04:21:45 +0000 UTCIt’s individual, I prefer narration, if the alternative is a long piece of interrogation that’s hard to follow through.
Alexandra Peshcherenko
2021-05-15 19:12:51 +0000 UTCI wish this episode had incorporated some of the interrogation audio and other interesting audio to come out of this case. Over time, the podcast seems to have shifted away from using that kind of audio content. Of course, often the quality of these kinds of recordings isn't great, but some of Casefile's best episodes (like the ones on Jennifer Pan and the Daniel Morcombe case) used a lot of interrogation, 911 and covert surveillance audio.
Zachary Snowdon Smith
2021-05-15 19:10:39 +0000 UTCVery sad. Very well done case Casefiles. Respect to all the people who helped put this lunatic in prison. I’m hoping, somehow, his time in jail brings him the hell he put Yinyyjng through.
MM
2021-05-15 18:50:11 +0000 UTCWas anyone else confused by the timeline, it was a little unclear to me that the narrative had jumped back in time so I didn't understand why Meegan didn't believe her boyfriend could be a suspect after he had already confessed to her!
Emily
2021-05-15 18:04:07 +0000 UTCOh, wow, a local case. This was huge news at the time. My heart broke for her family—sending your kid halfway around the world for an opportunity, only for her life to be snuffed out so callously.
Brenda Wells
2021-05-15 16:51:45 +0000 UTCI don’t want seem like I’m whining, I understand it gives atmosphere, l have MS maybe I’m too sensitive to sounds. I love this podcast you’re my favourite and Australian, of course I would much rather be a Patreon here, you guys do a fantastic job. : )
Estelle Dougan
2021-05-15 16:36:45 +0000 UTCNot everyone agrees. As long as it nots too loud, it adds atmosphere.
Bradford Shovlin
2021-05-15 16:26:53 +0000 UTCI have noticed the same with the background music, I really love this podcast,I’ve been listening for years. The music is extremely distracting, l can’t focus on the spoken word, please get rid of it you have a soothing voice, backing music not needed .
Estelle Dougan
2021-05-15 16:01:44 +0000 UTCIt’s not an audio problem as such, it’s an effect commonly used on instruments, guitars mostly called a Phaser. It’s probably not as noticeable when listening on a speaker, but with stereo ear buds I could notice it and it was distracting. Especially the first couple of minutes of the podcast. I will switch my earbuds to mono audio and listen again, as this will force the sound narrow and stop the phase effect.
Paul Rollins
2021-05-15 15:51:04 +0000 UTCThank you for the note, we'll have a look.
Casefile True Crime
2021-05-15 15:48:02 +0000 UTCI didn‘t even notice it, funny how perceptions can vary :)
David Rogosaroff
2021-05-15 15:27:58 +0000 UTCYou got most of the Mandarin pronunciation right. But, like most people, Beijing was not pronounced correctly.
Bob Trenwith
2021-05-15 14:06:28 +0000 UTCThe background music on this episode is really distracting. It’s constantly panning between earphones. Making me feel sea sick. Bad choice IMO.
Paul Rollins
2021-05-15 12:31:59 +0000 UTCYessss 👏🏼
Michelle
2021-05-15 08:05:06 +0000 UTC
