An Indian student in the US is accused of killing his 19-year-old girlfriend before allegedly fleeing the country. Here’s what we know about Varun Batchigari and the case.
Varun Batchigari, 20, is an Indian national who entered the United States through Los Angeles International Airport on January 8, 2024, on an F-1 student visa, according to federal law enforcement sources cited by Fox News.
Court documents say he was later expelled after a fight and had a history of domestic violence and sexual assault. One woman told investigators that Batchigari had sexually assaulted her at a Halloween party, though she never reported it to police, as per KOLD.
Around the time of the killing, Batchigari had also recently lost his job, which reportedly created financial problems and raised concerns about his ability to pay rent and maintain his visa status, per Fox News.
Batchigari is accused of strangling his 19-year-old girlfriend, Julissa Rubi Salazar, inside her apartment near the University of Arizona in Tucson on Thursday, August 6. The Tucson Fire Department arrived at the apartment around 4pm local time after Salazar’s family requested a welfare check. Crews found her dead on the floor, with a blanket around her neck and signs of strangulation and scratches on her neck. as per KOLD.
One of Salazar’s roommates told investigators that Salazar planned to break up with Batchigari and had previously been sexually assaulted by him. The roommate said Salazar was scared of him because of his history of violent behavior. Another roommate said she heard loud screaming from Salazar’s room on August 5. The screaming lasted several minutes. She later texted Salazar to check if she was okay, and Salazar replied that she was fine and that it was just an argument, according to KOLD.
Investigators allege Batchigari stole Salazar's phone and credit cards after the killing and used them to send a series of messages to her mother while posing as Salazar, apparently to cover up the crime. Salazar's mother said the messages did not match how her daughter usually communicated, which raised her family's concern.
He faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping and is awaiting extradition to Pima County, Arizona, where he will be booked into the Pima County Adult Detention facility.
Federal records reviewed by Fox News show that Batchigari was still in legal immigration status when the alleged murder happened, even though he had reportedly been expelled from the university. F-1 international students generally need to remain enrolled to keep their legal status, so it is unclear why his status had not already changed.
Khushi Arora is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she writes for the US Desk, covering everything happening in the United States, while maintaining quality and delivering impactful stories across all beats. She previously worked at Zee News for over a year where she explored multiple beats including News Desk, Education and Lifestyle. With a background in English Literature, Khushi blends sharp research with thoughtful storytelling, shaping stories that go beyond headlines and bring clarity and credibility to every piece she writes. Beyond the newsroom, she enjoys reading, watching cinema and loves having long conversations about books, films and everything in between.Read More