An Indian national, Varun Batchigari, who entered the United States on an F-1 student visa, has been accused of murdering his girlfriend, 19-year-old Julissa Salazar, in Tucson, Arizona. Federal law enforcement sources confirmed Batchigari's entry into the U.S. via Los Angeles International Airport on January 8, 2024.
Authorities allege that after Salazar's death, Batchigari stole her cellphone and credit cards. He is accused of sending a series of text messages to Salazar's mother, posing as the victim, in an apparent effort to conceal the crime. These messages prompted a welfare check that led to the discovery of Salazar's body inside an off-campus apartment near the University of Arizona.
Tucson police stated that Salazar was strangled on Thursday. The felony warrant obtained by KOLD-TV details allegations of escalating violence and a deteriorating relationship in the months leading up to the murder. Witnesses reported that Salazar had moved out due to issues with Batchigari and planned to end the relationship because of alleged domestic violence.
According to the warrant, witnesses also described prior violent behavior from Batchigari. One witness alleged a sexual assault at a Halloween party, which was not reported to law enforcement. Another witness stated that Batchigari had been expelled from the University of Arizona following a fight and had lost his job, leading to financial difficulties and concerns about his student visa status and rent payments.
Federal records indicate that Batchigari remained in lawful immigration status at the time of the alleged murder, despite his reported expulsion from the university. International students on F-1 visas are generally required to maintain enrollment to keep their legal status, and it remains unclear why his immigration status had not changed.
After the alleged killing, Batchigari reportedly boarded a flight from Houston bound for India, with a layover in Germany. The FBI alerted German authorities, leading to his arrest in that country. U.S. authorities are now working to extradite him back to Arizona to face the first-degree murder charge.