Slain Arizona student planned to break up with her Indian boyfriend, arrest warrant says

The death of a 19 year old University of Arizona student in an apartment near the campus area has led to a murder and kidnapping case with international implications. Julissa “Julie” Rubi Salazar was found dead Aug. 6 in her apartment near Euclid Avenue and Elm Street, and police say her boyfriend, Varun Batchigari, fled Tucson and was arrested in Germany. Batchigari, 20, is awaiting extradition to Pima County, where he faces a first degree murder charge and a kidnapping charge. As of Aug. 10, he had not been returned to local custody.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Salazar had told a roommate that she intended to end her relationship with Batchigari and wanted him out of their home. The roommate told investigators that Salazar described Batchigari as abusive and said he had sexually assaulted and choked her after an altercation at a Halloween party. That alleged sexual assault was not reported to police. Another person interviewed by investigators said Salazar moved in with roommates after experiencing problems with Batchigari in late 2025. The allegations in the warrant have not been tested in court.

The circumstances surrounding Salazar’s death prompted a welfare check requested by family members. Tucson Fire Department crews arrived at the apartment around 4 p.m. and found her dead, with a blanket pulled up to her neck. The fire crew notified Tucson police after seeing apparent injuries. The warrant describes redness and scratches around Salazar’s neck, as well as petechiae, or small marks caused by blood vessels breaking, around her eyes, eyelids and face. Investigators also documented injuries consistent with defensive wounds.

Police found the room in disarray, including broken glass and a toppled plant, details that investigators said indicated a struggle. A roommate told police that there had been loud screaming and yelling from Salazar’s room on Aug. 5, followed by a short period of silence and then another brief outburst. The roommate later heard a woman’s voice and could not determine whether anyone else was in the room. After texting Salazar to ask if she was all right, the roommate said Salazar replied that she was fine and that the noise had been an argument.

Investigators believe Batchigari took Salazar’s phone and bank cards after the killing. Police said the bank card was used to obtain a ride to Tucson International Airport. The warrant says Salazar’s phone registered at the airport Thursday morning, about an hour before Batchigari boarded a flight to Houston. He then traveled onward to Europe, apparently intending to continue to India, his home country. German authorities arrested him after his arrival there. The Tucson Police Department credited the FBI’s Tucson office and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Berlin with helping locate and detain him.

The warrant also describes communications that raised concerns for Salazar’s family. Salazar had planned to visit her mother in Yuma but canceled by text. Her mother told police the messages seemed unusual and did not resemble the way her daughter normally communicated. The mother had been able to view Salazar’s location through a phone location sharing feature on Wednesday, but that feature had been disabled by the following day. Police said Batchigari may have used Salazar’s phone to send messages to her mother. Salazar’s keys and phone were not found in the apartment.

Batchigari’s background is also part of the investigation. The warrant references an assault case handled by the University of Arizona Police Department, and he has an open misdemeanor assault case from May. Public records did not immediately clarify the circumstances of that case or whether it involved Salazar. People interviewed by investigators said Batchigari had been expelled from the university after a fight. They also said he had lost a job, which created problems involving his visa and ability to pay rent. A video posted on YouTube identified him as a University of Arizona business analytics student.

Salazar was part of the university’s selective science, engineering and mathematics program. In March, the program recognized her as its “mentor of the month,” praising her efforts to build relationships with students, connect with them personally and provide individualized support. The program described her as a positive presence with a bubbly demeanor. Her family has established a GoFundMe campaign to help pay funeral and memorial expenses, including the cost of transporting her body from Tucson to Yuma. The campaign had raised more than $18,000 as of Aug. 10. Organizers described Salazar as a beloved daughter, sister, friend and family member who will be deeply missed.

The case remains active while Arizona authorities pursue Batchigari’s extradition. The murder and kidnapping accusations stem from the warrant and police investigation, and Batchigari will have the opportunity to respond in court. For people in the University of Arizona area, the case has brought renewed attention to warning signs involving relationship violence, threats and unwanted control. Salazar’s reported plans to leave the relationship, her concerns about safety and the earlier allegations described by witnesses are now central to the investigation into what happened inside the apartment.