Federal sources say Varun Batchigari entered the U.S. on a student visa and fled overseas after the Arizona murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend.
An Arizona murder case has drawn national attention after federal sources said the suspect entered the country on a student visa and then tried to leave the United States after his girlfriend was found dead near the University of Arizona. Authorities say 20-year-old Varun Batchigari is now facing a first-degree murder charge in the killing of 19-year-old Julissa Salazar.
Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that Batchigari is an Indian national who entered the United States through Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 8, 2024, using an F-1 student visa. After Salazar’s death, authorities say he boarded a flight from Houston headed to India with a stop in Germany, where he was arrested after the FBI alerted local authorities. The bureau is now working to bring him back to Arizona to face prosecution.
Tucson police say Salazar was strangled Thursday inside an off-campus apartment near the University of Arizona. Investigators allege Batchigari took her cellphone and credit cards after the killing and then sent messages to her mother while pretending to be Salazar, apparently in an effort to hide what had happened. Those messages alarmed her family and led to a welfare check, which is how officers discovered her body.
A felony warrant reviewed by KOLD-TV describes a relationship that had become increasingly troubled in the months before Salazar’s death. According to the warrant, Batchigari had previously been involved in an assault case investigated by the University of Arizona Police Department. Witnesses told investigators that Salazar had moved out after repeated problems with him in late 2025 and had planned to end the relationship because of what they described as a history of domestic violence.
“Federal sources say Varun Batchigari entered the U.S. on a student visa and fled overseas after the Arizona murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend.”
The warrant also includes other allegations from witnesses. One said Batchigari sexually assaulted her at a Halloween party, though she did not report it to law enforcement. Another witness told investigators that Batchigari was expelled from the University of Arizona after a fight and later lost his job, which created money problems and raised concerns about his student visa status and ability to pay rent. Federal records reviewed by Fox News show that Batchigari was still in lawful immigration status at the time of the alleged murder, even after the reported expulsion.
That detail has put a sharper spotlight on how student visa status can intersect with law enforcement and campus oversight. F-1 students are generally expected to remain enrolled to keep their legal status, and the record cited by federal sources says it was not clear why Batchigari’s immigration status had not yet changed. The case now sits at the center of both a homicide investigation and a broader look at how quickly authorities can act when a suspect leaves the country.
Tucson police said there were no updates beyond what had already been released publicly. Fox News Digital also sought confirmation from the University of Arizona about Batchigari’s enrollment history and whether Salazar was a student, but did not immediately receive a response. The Arizona murder case matters because it raises urgent questions about campus safety, immigration enforcement and how quickly suspects can cross borders after a violent crime.
Frequently asked questions
Who is accused in the Arizona murder case?
Authorities say 20-year-old Varun Batchigari is charged with murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend, Julissa Salazar.
How did authorities say Batchigari was caught?
Federal sources said he boarded a flight from Houston bound for India with a stop in Germany, where he was arrested after the Fbi alerted local authorities.
What do investigators say happened after the killing?
Investigators allege Batchigari stole Salazar’s cellphone and credit cards and sent text messages to her mother while posing as Salazar.
What happens next in the case?
The Fbi is working to extradite Batchigari back to Arizona, where he faces a first-degree murder charge.
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