Tucson Murder Suspect Arrested In Germany After Girlfriend's Death

A 19-year-old woman was found dead in her Tucson apartment, and the man police identify as her boyfriend was arrested in Germany after investigators say he left Arizona and planned to travel on to India. The case affects residents near North Tyndall Avenue and East Chauncey Lane, where Tucson police and firefighters responded to a family requested welfare check. The suspect, 20-year-old Varun Batchigari, is awaiting extradition to Arizona and is expected to be booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex on charges of first degree murder and kidnapping.

First responders arrived at the apartment around 4 p.m. Aug. 6 after family members asked authorities to check on someone who was unresponsive. Inside, they found Julissa Rubi Salazar dead on the floor with what police described as obvious signs of trauma. Tucson police homicide detectives and crime scene personnel then processed the apartment, interviewed people connected to the case and reviewed forensic evidence as they worked to determine what happened.

Investigators identified Batchigari, Salazar’s boyfriend, as the suspect. According to details contained in a felony warrant, one of Salazar’s roommates told investigators that Salazar had planned to end the relationship. The roommate also said Salazar had previously been sexually assaulted by Batchigari and was afraid of him because of what the roommate described as a history of violent behavior. Those allegations are part of the warrant and have not been resolved in court.

Another roommate described hearing loud screaming and yelling from Salazar’s room the night before she was found. The roommate told investigators the sounds continued for several minutes, stopped briefly and then resumed during another short outburst. The roommate said a woman’s voice could be heard afterward, but it was unclear whether anyone else was in the room. The roommate texted Salazar to ask whether she was safe and received a response saying she was fine and that she and Batchigari had only been arguing.

Police allege that Batchigari strangled Salazar, then took her cellphone and bank cards. Investigators say the cards were used to obtain a ride to Tucson International Airport. He allegedly flew first to Houston and then continued to Germany, according to information from the warrant and police. Authorities say he intended to travel from Germany to India, his home country, but was arrested after arriving there before he could continue the trip.

The investigation also raised concerns about messages sent from Salazar’s phone. Her mother told investigators that texts sent to her after Salazar’s death did not resemble the way her daughter usually communicated. Police say the phone was used by Batchigari to contact Salazar’s mother. The details are among the evidence investigators cited while building the case and seeking an arrest warrant.

Batchigari’s arrest required cooperation among local, federal and international agencies. The Tucson Police Department worked with the FBI’s Tucson office, the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Berlin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service and Munich police. Tucson police credited those agencies with helping locate Batchigari and coordinate his detention in Germany. He remains in custody there while the extradition process moves forward, and the homicide investigation is still active.

Court documents cited by police also describe previous cases involving Batchigari. He had been involved in an assault case handled by the University of Arizona Police Department and was expelled from the university after a fight, according to the warrant. The documents also refer to a history of domestic violence and sexual assault. These prior allegations and the current accusations will be addressed through the legal process, and Batchigari is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Salazar’s family is seeking help with the financial and emotional consequences of her death. A GoFundMe fundraiser describes her as a beloved daughter, sister and friend whose life ended while she was attending college in Tucson. Organizers say she is survived by her parents and two younger sisters. Donations are intended to help pay for funeral and memorial costs, return Salazar’s body from Tucson to her family, counseling and emotional support, and assistance for her younger sisters. People who cannot contribute financially are being asked to share the fundraiser. Tucson police also released homicide figures showing 35 killings year to date in 2025 compared with 25 at the same point in 2026, a difference of 10, although the department emphasized that the investigation into Salazar’s death remains ongoing.