Dallas

Human Remains Identified as Missing College Student Zuzu Verk: Authorities

Boyfriend of Zuzu Verk arrested in her disappearance, second man arrested in Arizona

The Brewster County sheriff says remains found last week in a shallow grave northwest of Alpine have been identified as missing 22-year-old college student Zuzu Verk, of Fort Worth.[[412935083,C]]

Her boyfriend, 26-year-old Robert Fabian, of Alpine, is jailed on a charge of tampering with evidence by concealing a human corpse.

A friend of Fabian's, 28-year-old Chris Estrada, is jailed on a corpse concealment charge in Phoenix and is awaiting return to Texas.

Zuzu Verk/Facebook
Zuzu Verk

Verk was attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine when she disappeared Oct. 12, 2016. She was reported missing two days later by Fabian, who told police he'd last seen her two days before.

Fabian's bail was set at $500,000.

On Friday, police found human remains in a shallow grave off Wagon Road in Sunny Glen, northwest of Alpine. Police were unable to confirm Friday if the remains were Verk and sent them to The Institute of Forensic Sciences at the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office for identification.

Since he was the last known person to see her alive, police named Fabian a suspect last fall. Until now, they have not had enough evidence to make an arrest.

The investigation into Verk's disappearance is being conducted by the Alpine Police Department, Brewster County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Rangers.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the remains have been taken to Dallas for testing, not the University of North Texas as originally reported.

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