Indian National Arrested in Germany for Murder of Arizona Girlfriend
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Varun Batchigari, a 20-year-old Indian national, was arrested at a German airport and charged with murder in connection with the death of 19-year-old college student Julissa Rubi Salazar, according to the Tucson Police Department and local news reports. Investigators allege Batchigari fled the United States after the death of Salazar.
Welfare Check Leads to Murder Investigation
The Tucson Fire Department discovered Salazar’s body at approximately 4 p.m. on August 6 inside an apartment near Euclid Avenue and Elm Street, according to local reports. Family members had requested a welfare check after losing contact with the 19-year-old student. Firefighters entering the residence found Salazar’s body on the floor with a blanket pulled up to her neck, noting visible strangulation marks and scratches.
The roommate told investigators she heard shouting for several minutes, followed by a brief silence and another outburst. When the roommate texted Salazar to check on her safety, a response arrived claiming everything was fine and that she and Batchigari had merely been arguing.
Suspect Flicht and International Arrest
Investigators identified Batchigari as the prime suspect after analyzing the circumstances of the death. According to police and local reporting, Batchigari took Salazar’s cellphone and bank cards, using one of her cards to pay for a ride to Tucson International Airport. He boarded a flight to Houston and traveled onward to Germany.
Authorities stated that Batchigari intended to catch a connecting flight from Germany to India, his home country. Law enforcement intercepted him immediately upon his arrival at the German airport, preventing him from completing his journey. The apprehension was executed through a joint operation involving the Tucson Police Department, the FBI Tucson Office, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Berlin.
Background and Relationship Details
Court documents and police findings outline a troubled history leading up to the killing. According to a roommate’s statement cited in the warrant, Salazar had recently planned to break up with Batchigari and was afraid of him due to an alleged history of violent behavior. Another friend told investigators that Salazar had moved in with other roommates in late 2025 due to problems with Batchigari.
Additional interviews revealed that Batchigari had previously been involved in an assault case investigated by the University of Arizona Police Department and had been expelled from the university following a fight. Sources noted he had also lost his job, which created complications regarding his student visa status and rent payments. Following the incident, Batchigari allegedly used Salazar’s phone to send text messages to her mother that did not match the victim’s normal communication style.
Batchigari remains held in German custody while formal extradition proceedings move forward to return him to Arizona to face charges at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex.