Samiya Haqiqi Missing Person Case

Oct 22, 2010

Sep 15, 2022

Samiya

Haqiqi

50

24

65 inches

66 inches

128 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

On November 12, 1999, Samiya Haqiqi, a 24-year-old law student, vanished after leaving her classes at Quinnipiac Law School in Hamden, Connecticut. She was expected to spend the weekend with her family in Flushing, Queens, a borough of New York City, a routine she followed most weekends. Described as a bright and dedicated student of Afghan descent, who was on the Dean's List at St. John's University before law school, Samiya was in regular contact with her family, calling them daily. Her failure to arrive home and the subsequent silence were highly uncharacteristic and immediately raised alarm among her loved ones. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a white T-shirt, dark blue boot-cut jeans, and chunky black platform boots. She was also believed to be carrying a dark brown leather backpack and wearing a distinctive ring with diamonds on her right hand. Two days after she was last seen, on November 14, 1999, Samiya's black 1997 Volkswagen Jetta was found locked and abandoned in the parking lot of a Grand Union supermarket in Little Neck, Queens. The location was less than a block from the residence of her boyfriend, Fahid "John" Popal. Inside the vehicle, investigators discovered a gold necklace Popal had given her, but there were no signs of a struggle. Her family, deeply concerned, officially reported her missing that same day. The investigation soon focused on Popal, as it was revealed that Samiya had intended to end their relationship, possibly because she had reconnected with a former boyfriend. This revelation was believed to be the motive for her presumed death. The investigation into Samiya's disappearance uncovered disturbing evidence. A witness reported seeing a man carrying a rolled-up rug into the Long Island auto repair shop where Popal and his brother, Farhad "Frank" Popal, worked. A search of the shop later revealed a singed clump of hair that DNA testing confirmed belonged to Samiya; it appeared to have been violently torn from her head. In August 2002, Fahid Popal was arrested in Fremont, California, and charged with Samiya's murder. His brother, Farhad, was later charged with hindering prosecution. In April 2006, Fahid Popal was convicted of murdering Samiya and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. His brother pleaded no contest to his charge. Despite the conviction, Samiya Haqiqi's body has never been found, leaving her family without the closure of a proper burial. The case is a heartbreaking example of a promising young life cut short by violence, with the absence of her remains serving as a constant, painful reminder of the loss.

Nov 12, 1999

New York City

New York

Queens County

9254

New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad

New York

New York

New York County

10039

2770 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York

2126947781

Local

Law Enforcement

KNMP08882

New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

09/05/2026