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Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
Zuzu Verk went missing on Oct. 12, 2016, in Alpine after going on a date. Police are looking for information regarding two vehicles possibly involved in the case of he disappearance.
Zuzu Verk went missing on Oct. 12, 2016, in Alpine after going on a date. Police are looking for information regarding two vehicles possibly involved in the case of he disappearance.
Christopher Estrada was arrested Jan. 22, 2017 and charged with evading arrest and driving while intoxicated by the Alpine Police Department.
Christopher Estrada was arrested Jan. 22, 2017 and charged with evading arrest and driving while intoxicated by the Alpine Police Department.
Robert Fabian (left), 25, was named a suspect in the disappearance of Zuzu Verk(right), his girlfriend, Oct. 26, 2016.
Robert Fabian (left), 25, was named a suspect in the disappearance of Zuzu Verk(right), his girlfriend, Oct. 26, 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October 2016.
Tributes poured in on social media at the beginning of February 2017 when news came that human remains found near Alpine belonged to Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old college student who’d been missing since October
A dizzying four months of search and unanswered questions ceased this week when the remains of Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old missing college student, were positively identified as hers, news that sent communities across the state into mourning.
Verk, who is originally from Coppell, a suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, spent time at the University of North Texas before attending Sul Ross State University, where she studied conservation biology, according to her Facebook page.
She was accepted to Texas A&M University at the time she went missing in October 2016, CBS 7 reported in January.
Friends in each of Verk’s social circles have taken to social media to express their sadness after Alpine Police Chief Russel Scown and Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson confirmed Monday the remains found Feb. 3 in a shallow grave near Alpine were hers.
RELATED: Human remains found in Alpine confirmed to be those of West Texas college student
“I’ll never have enough words, let alone the right words, to say how much of an impact you had on my life,” one said. “You supported everything from my questionable karaoke addiction to when I thought I could just go and start a non-profit.”
Others have donned green clothes and accessories in remembrance of their friend.
News West 9 interviewed Verk’s family, who said they were relieved the search had ended, and justice would hopefully be served. So far, two people have been arrested in relation to Verk’s death— Robert Fabian and Christopher Estrada.
RELATED: West Texas police arrest 25-year-old boyfriend in Zuzu Verk case
Scown said Estrada was arrested in Pheonix, Arizona Monday and was charged with tampering with physical evidence by concealing a human corpse, a second-degree felony punishable by a maximum 20 year sentence upon conviction. He said Estrada will be brought back to Texas to face charges.
Fabian, who was Verk’s boyfriend prior to her disappearance, was arrested Saturday and was also charged with tampering with physical evidence by concealing a human corpse, according to an Alpine Police Department news release. His bail is set at $500,000.
Verk was last seen on a date with Fabian Oct. 11, 2016. Three days later, Fabian made a call to police to tell them she was missing.
In the days before making his police report, Fabian made two calls to Estrada, and borrowed his white Ford Mustang, according to police. Estrada had his mustang cleaned three times in the days following Verk’s disappearance.
“She had plans to do so much. She wanted to travel, she wanted to do so much, she just wanted to help the world, she wanted to make the world a better place and she was taken from the world, taken from us,” said Miles Verk, Zuzu’s brother.
RELATED: Human remains found in West Texas where 22-year-old college student went missing
Fabian’s family, including his mother, brother and sister, are considered persons of interest in the case, Scown said. He could not provide additional information as the case is ongoing.
Scown said additional arrests would be made “eventually.”
Sul Ross State University President William Kibler released a statement Monday saying Verk would be remembered for her “smiles, energy and zest for life.”
“She embodied characteristics that represent the best in all of us,” Kobler said.
Verk’s family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Zuzu Verk Memorial Scholarship Fund in Natural Resource Management. Additionally, a memorial service for Verk will be held at the university Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in one of the university’s amphitheaters.
Staff writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.
kbradshaw@express-news.net
Twitter: @kbrad5
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