The US Department of Justice has announced that Brendt Christensen has been indicted on new charges related to the kidnapping of Chinese visiting scholar Zhang Yingying, whose body has not been found.

A federal grand jury indicted Christensen, 28, on a charge of kidnapping resulting in death, as well as two counts of making false statements, according to the US Department of Justice.

Christensen could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted on new charges filed alleging he kidnapped and killed Zhang in June.

Zhang went missing from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign since June 9. Local police believe her to be dead. Christensen was charged with her kidnapping in July.