An Indian student named Varun Batchigari, 20, is facing charges for the murder of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Julissa Rubi Salazar, in Tucson, Arizona. The incident, which occurred on August 6, led to Salazar being found dead in her apartment near the University of Arizona.
According to the Tucson Police Department, firefighters went to her apartment following a welfare check requested by Salazar’s family, who were concerned about her well-being. Upon arrival, authorities found signs of trauma, including marks around her neck.
### Events Following the Incident
Investigators believe that after the murder, Batchigari used Salazar’s cellphone to send messages to her mother. However, her mother noted that these messages did not match Salazar’s usual way of communicating. This raised alarm, leading the family to request the welfare check that ultimately revealed Salazar’s body.
Police later discovered that Batchigari used Salazar’s bank cards to take a taxi to the Tucson International Airport.
### Arrest and Attempted Flight
After flying from Tucson to Houston, Batchigari planned to continue to India via Germany. However, he was apprehended in Germany with help from both the FBI’s Tucson office and their legal team in Berlin. Currently, he is in custody in Germany, waiting to be extradited back to Arizona.
### Background Information
Batchigari, who entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa in January 2024, studied business analytics at the University of Arizona. However, he had recently been expelled due to a fight, and reports indicate that he had lost his job, complicating his financial situation.
### Relationship Dynamics
According to the felony warrant, a roommate of Salazar’s informed investigators that Salazar intended to end her relationship with Batchigari. This same roommate expressed concerns, stating that Salazar had previously faced violent behavior from Batchigari and felt scared of him.
On the day before her death, multiple roommates reported hearing loud arguments coming from Salazar’s room. While a message sent from Salazar’s phone claimed everything was fine, investigators suspect it may have been sent by Batchigari.
There are also unreported allegations of past misconduct involving Batchigari, including an incident at a Halloween party and another assault case linked to the University of Arizona.
Authorities are now focused on extraditing Batchigari to Arizona, where he faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with Salazar’s tragic death.
