A 19-year-old University of Arizona student was allegedly killed by her boyfriend just before she planned to end their relationship, according to police and court documents.
Julissa Rubi Salazar was found dead inside her apartment near the university’s main campus in Tucson on Thursday, Aug. 6, after her family requested a welfare check.
Tucson Fire Department crews were the first to arrive and discovered Salazar unresponsive. Medics noticed signs of trauma on her body, prompting police to launch a homicide investigation.
Detectives later identified Salazar’s boyfriend, 20-year-old Varun Batchigari, as a suspect and obtained a warrant charging him with first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Police said the warrant was based on evidence collected at the apartment and information gathered through numerous interviews.
Authorities allege Batchigari fled Tucson the same day Salazar was found dead.
Investigators said he traveled through Tucson International Airport and boarded a flight to Berlin, allegedly intending to continue on to his home country of India.
His escape was cut short when he was arrested after arriving in Germany.
Tucson police said the arrest was made through coordination with the FBI’s Tucson office and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Berlin.
Batchigari remains in custody while awaiting extradition back to Arizona.
The FBI’s Phoenix field office, which oversees Tucson, also confirmed that he had been taken into custody in Berlin.
Court records obtained by local outlet 13 News reportedly reveal disturbing new details about Salazar’s death.
According to the felony warrant, investigators found signs that Salazar had been strangled. She was reportedly discovered with a blanket pulled up to her neck.
Batchigari is also accused of stealing Salazar’s cellphone and credit cards before leaving the United States.
One of Salazar’s roommates told investigators that the teenager had planned to break up with Batchigari shortly before her death.
The roommate also reportedly said Salazar was afraid of him because of past violent behavior.
Another roommate told police that screaming had been heard coming from Salazar’s bedroom on Aug. 5, just one day before she was found dead.
13 News also reported that Batchigari had previously been expelled from the University of Arizona following a fight.
The outlet further reported that he allegedly had a history involving domestic violence and sexual assault allegations.
The University of Arizona had not publicly commented on the case as of Sunday, Aug. 9.
Authorities are now working to bring Batchigari back to Arizona, where he is expected to face the murder and kidnapping charges.
