A University of Arizona student who was found dead in her Tucson apartment had reportedly planned to end her relationship with her boyfriend and had expressed concerns about her safety, according to information contained in a police arrest warrant.
Julissa Rubi Salazar, 19, was discovered dead in her apartment on August 6. Investigators say evidence at the scene indicated that she may have been attacked inside the home.
Police have charged her boyfriend, Varun Batchigari, 20, with first degree murder and kidnapping. He was arrested in Germany after authorities tracked his movements as he traveled from Arizona toward India. He is now awaiting extradition to Arizona.
University of Arizona Student Had Planned to End Relationship
According to the warrant affidavit, Salazar had spoken with a roommate about ending her relationship with Batchigari.
The roommate told investigators that Salazar had described the relationship as abusive and had previously alleged that Batchigari sexually assaulted her following an argument at a Halloween party.
Those allegations are part of the evidence investigators presented in seeking the arrest warrant and have not been established in court.
Police also found signs inside Salazar’s apartment that suggested a struggle had occurred. Investigators reported that the room was disordered and that some of Salazar’s belongings, including her phone and keys, could not initially be located.
Authorities also documented injuries that they said were consistent with an assault.
University of Arizona Student’s Final Movements Investigated
Investigators have been examining Salazar’s phone activity and movements in the hours surrounding her death.
According to the warrant, her phone was detected at Tucson International Airport on the morning of August 7, roughly an hour before Batchigari boarded a flight from Tucson to Houston. He subsequently traveled onward toward Europe while making his way to India.
Salazar had also planned to visit her mother in Yuma, Arizona, but canceled the trip by text message. Her mother told police that the messages seemed unusual and gave her the impression that something was wrong.
The warrant states that Salazar’s mother had been able to monitor her daughter’s location through a location-sharing feature on August 5. By the following day, that feature had reportedly been disabled.
These details became part of the investigation as authorities attempted to establish a timeline leading up to Salazar’s death.
University of Arizona Student Remembered as a Mentor
Beyond the investigation, Salazar was remembered by the University of Arizona community as an engaged and supportive student.
Known to friends and colleagues as Julie, she participated in an advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics program at the university. She was also recognized as a mentor within the program.
In March, the program highlighted her as its “mentor of the month,” praising her ability to build relationships with students and provide individual support.
The university community described her as positive and approachable, highlighting the impact she had on students around her.
Her death has left family members, friends and fellow students mourning a young woman whose life and academic ambitions were cut short.
Suspect Awaits Extradition to Arizona
Authorities from the United States and other countries worked together to locate and arrest Batchigari in Germany as he traveled outside the United States.
He is currently facing first degree murder and kidnapping charges and is expected to face the legal proceedings in Arizona following extradition.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against him will ultimately have to be tested through the court process.
A fundraising campaign has also been established to help Salazar’s family with funeral expenses and other costs following her death. Her family described her as a beloved daughter, sister and friend whose loss has been devastating.
The case has drawn attention to the warning signs that can sometimes surround abusive relationships and the importance of taking concerns about personal safety seriously. For Salazar’s family and the University of Arizona community, the focus now remains on remembering her life while authorities continue seeking answers about what happened.
