Sources: Packed Suitcases Found At Haffar Family Home

" Authorities are increasingly concerned that Muaz Haffar may have fled the Chicago area to avoid trial in the fatal beating of a college student with a bike lock, sources familiar with the investigation said Friday.

Investigators have found packed suitcases at the Haffar family home in suburban Burr Ridge, sources said, and there appeared to be few of his belongings at the Chicago apartment where the 21-year-old had been staying. Investigators were attempting to determine whether airline tickets were delivered to the Haffar home in recent days, investigators said, and were scouring phone records for clues to his location.

Haffar, who had bonded out of the Cook County Jail days after the July 9 death of Tombol Malik, 23, a University of Illinois at Chicago student, did not appear for his court date Thursday, outraging the victim's family and friends. Haffar's mom is believed to be in Syria, prosecutors said Friday, and he may have a brother in Egypt."

Chicago Tribune