Arizona’s academic community has been deeply shaken by the discovery of the body of Julissa Ruby Salazar, a 20-year-old student, inside her residence near the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. Authorities have named her peer, Varun Bachigari, a 19-year-old Indian national and fellow student, as the main suspect.
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Sources close to the investigation report that Bachigari strangled the young woman after she expressed her decision to end their relationship. Investigators are examining evidence suggesting that the couple had previously experienced violent incidents.
The victim’s relatives raised the alarm after becoming concerned when she failed to answer their calls. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers found the student unresponsive in her room. During the initial phase of the investigation, Bachigari became the focus of the inquiry. According to preliminary information, after the crime, he allegedly stole the victim’s mobile phone and bank cards and exchanged messages with her family members, further intensifying their panic.
Suspecting that the young man had fled the country, investigators tracked his movements and discovered that he had arrived at Tucson International Airport, from where he initially flew to Houston. From there, he continued to Germany, allegedly intending to travel to India.
After US police issued an arrest warrant and coordinated with their German counterparts, Bachigari was taken into custody in the German capital. Meanwhile, the investigation has uncovered disturbing details about the couple’s relationship. Salazar was reportedly planning to separate from her partner, against whom she had previously made allegations of sexual assault.
Witnesses said that loud screams had been heard coming from her apartment a few days before the victim was found dead. Her acquaintances contacted her by text message to make sure she was safe, and she replied that she was fine and that there had simply been an argument.
Records show that Bachigari had previously faced a physical assault charge, while another woman had stated that he sexually assaulted her during a Halloween party. Law enforcement agencies are continuing their efforts to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident and finalize the list of charges the suspect will face.
