Samiya Haqiqi, a 24-year-old law student at Quinnipiac College in Connecticut, disappeared on November 12, 1999. She was last seen leaving her campus after class, planning to spend the weekend with her family in Queens, New York. Haqiqi never arrived at her family's home, and her car, a black 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, was found locked and abandoned on November 14 in a supermarket parking lot in Little Neck, Queens.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found a gold necklace given to her by her boyfriend, Fahid Popal, but there were no immediate signs of a struggle.
Haqiqi had maintained regular contact with her family, calling them every night. Her disappearance was completely out of character, and her family reported her missing when she failed to arrive as expected. Authorities soon focused on Popal as a suspect. It was believed that Haqiqi had intended to break off her relationship with him, which may have motivated her murder. Witnesses reported seeing suspicious activity at an auto repair shop where Popal and his brother worked, including a rolled-up rug being carried into the shop.
In 2002, Fahid Popal was arrested and later convicted of Haqiqi’s murder in 2006, though her body has never been recovered. His brother, Farhad Popal, was charged with hindering prosecution but served no jail time. Despite the conviction, Haqiqi's remains have not been found, leaving some aspects of the case unresolved.Last Seen: Nov 12, 1999
