Despite her tragically brief life, Zhang Yingying left her mark on many communities, with friends, locals in Illinois and people around the world sending messages of support in the two years since she went missing on June 9, 2017. They also mourned on learning she had been killed.

Shortly after Zhang disappeared, well-wishers placed flowers, a teddy bear and photos of her near the bus stop where she was last seen.

A surveillance camera near the stop captured footage of her getting into the car of former University of Illinois student Brendt Christensen, who was last month sentenced to life in prison after being convicted by a federal court of kidnapping and killing her.

In October, a memorial garden for Zhang Yingying was set up near the bus stop.

Jones, the university's Urbana campus chancellor, said at a dedication ceremony for the garden that the place "will truly be a profound space that brings a bit of joy and a bit of peace at the same time".

University spokeswoman Robin Kaler told the institution's student newspaper The Daily Illini, "It is very clear that Zhang Yingying left a very important mark on our university and brought a lot of people together," adding that the garden gives people "a place to go to remember her, to think of her and to feel peace".

The 56-square-meter garden, which features a stone engraved with Zhang Yingying's name in both Chinese and English, was designed by two local gardeners.

Urbana resident Judith Parker posted on Facebook: "Her garden is beautiful. Much thought was given to the selection of plants. Many people will tend it with love, and it's very likely it will be a comfort to those who need it."

A Facebook post by Marsha Dunlap, an executive administrative assistant at the university, stated: "My heart is saddened as I drive out of the parking garage across from her memorial every workday. I do hope that in the future they find your (Zhang Yingying's) remains and can send you home" to family and loved ones.

Finding the student's remains and returning them to China has always been the family's primary goal.

After Zhang Yingying went missing, hundreds of people joined the search for her, including students, members of local Chinese communities, her colleagues, teachers and friends, and local residents, some of whom may never have met her.

Some volunteers continued the search after Christensen was arrested on June 29, 2017, and law enforcement agents said they no longer believed the student was alive.

The whereabouts of her remains remained a mystery until recently when her family was given details by prosecutors late last month of what Christensen told his defense team.

According to information from the team and the authorities, the remains may be in a private landfill in Vermilion Country, Illinois, covered by a substantial amount of compacted earth.