Arizona student found dead in apartment as boyfriend attempts to flee back to India

A 19-year-old University of Arizona student was found dead inside her Tucson apartment on Thursday after being murdered by her boyfriend, who attempted to flee to his home country of India.

Julissa Rubi Salazar was found dead in her apartment at approximately 4 pm after her parents requested a welfare check. First responders with the fire department discovered Salazar and requested police assistance after suspecting that a homicide had occurred.

Salazar was reportedly found on the floor with a blanket pulled over her neck. Her body had signs of strangulation and scratch marks.

Her boyfriend, Varun Batchigari, was identified by detectives as the primary suspect. A first-degree murder and kidnapping warrant was issued for his arrest. 

According to Salazar’s roommates, she had been planning to end her relationship with Batchigari because she was sexually assaulted. One roommate said that the day before the murder she heard screams coming from Salazar’s room, which Salazar downplayed as an argument.

Batchigari allegedly stole Salazar’s phone and bank cards after carrying out the murder and traveled to Tucson International Airport. He also texted Salazar’s mother, who said the texts seemed inconsistent with prior messages from her daughter, which prompted the welfare check.

Batchigari traveled to Houston, then Germany, and was planning to travel to India before being apprehended by the FBI.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Batchigari had a violent history. He has a pending case of assault in Pima County Court from an incident in May. He was also expelled from the University of Arizona due to a fight and was recently fired from his job.