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

Muaz Haffar Friends & Family Interviewed

"Investigators have interviewed family and friends of 21-year-old Muaz Haffar, the man accused of beating UIC student Tombol Malik to death with a bike lock July 9 near the UIC campus, according to a spokesman with the Cook County sheriff's office."

Chicago Sun Times

Muaz Haffar Is A Fugitive

"If you see him, don't make contact with him. What we would advise is to dial 911 and get the local authorities and let us know where he's at," Burr Ridge police Cpl. Joseph Farmer said.

Chicago Red Streak

Naperville Sun

ABC News

NBC News

Daily Herald

Daily Southtown

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun Times

Muaz Haffar Has Had Facial Surgeries

"She said her brother had suffered many facial fractures and had had surgery."

Chicago Sun Times

"She said her brother...has endured facial surgeries"

Chicago Tribune

Muaz Haffar Photos

Noor Haffar Statements

"Nobody has been able to get ahold of him," said Noor Haffar, 24. "I hope he's OK."

Investigators have not said what Haffar and Matulis were doing in the neighborhood. Haffar's sister said Haffar and Matulis were staying with her at an apartment near the site of the beating.

Noor Haffar said Thursday that she has spoken to her brother, and she insists Malik was the aggressor, not her brother.

Haffar struck Malik in self defense, she said.

"At one point, my brother's life flashed before his eyes, and he pleaded with Malik to drop the [bike lock]," she said.

She said her brother had suffered many facial fractures and had had surgery.

Chicago Suntimes


Haffar's sister, Noor Haffar, 24, said her brother has been depressed and panicked in recent days but that she has not seen him since Wednesday. People should wait to learn all the facts of the case, Haffar said, and should not be quick to judge her brother."We want people to be patient and the truth will come out," Haffar said. "I just hope he's OK."

"He would never do something like this unless his life was in danger; he did what he could to escape," she said of the incident. "He wouldn't throw his life away for no reason. Three lives are completely destroyed by this."She said she hopes her brother turns himself in so he can face the charges.

Chicago Tribune


"I want him to know that the truth is coming out now and he doesn't have to be afraid because justice will be served," Muaz Haffer's sister said.

"I think he was just afraid for himself and afraid for us. We can't even stay home anymore," Muaz Haffer's sister said.

NBC 5 Chicago


Last week, Haffar's sister, Noor Haffar, said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times that her brother was simply scared and couldn't face the courthouse throngs. She also said an extremely drunk Malik and Popelka started the July 9 fight.

Chicago Suntimes

Noor Haffar Invokes 5th Amendment Rights Against Self-Incrimination

Chicago Suntimes

Steven Saltzman Statements

Haffar's attorney, Steven Saltzman, told the judge that his client is a good student from "a very strong family." Haffar's father, Nabil, is a doctor, and his sister is studying medicine at Rush University Medical School, Saltzman said.

Chicago Tribune

Steven Saltzman, attorney for other suspect, 21-year-old Benedictine University student Muaz Haffer, said, "It is a very upseting time for these families. My client's family is a very close family, a very respectable family (which) is very upset about this and feels terrible for Mr. Malik's family."

NBC 5 Chicago

In court, his attorney, Steven Saltzman, glanced around anxiously, then told Judge Laura Sullivan: "He's gotten confused. He's had some surgery recently."

As Saltzman scurried back and forth in the courthouse lobby, some friends of the victim accused him of aiding a fugitive. Saltzman stopped and said, "Don't act like that." Later, Saltzman denied rumors his client might have left the country.

Chicago Suntimes

"He's gotten confused," Steven Saltzman said of his client, telling the judge Haffar, 21, had recently undergone medical procedures and must have been uncertain of what time he was to be in court.

"No," Saltzman said outside court. "He has not fled the country."

Chicago Tribune

Haffar's lawyer, Steven Saltzman, said neither he, nor the suspect's family, knows where Haffar is.

"If I knew where he was, he would have surrendered himself," Saltzman said. "His family wants him to turn himself in."

Chicago Tribune


“It’s speculation. Unfortunately, you all have done way too much speculating in this case,” said Haffar’s attorney Steven Saltzman. “It’s silly to speculate. We’ll know something when we know something.”

“I’ve said consistently, I think my client should be here,” Saltzman said.

CBS 2 Chicago

Nabil Haffar Statments

"I want him to come forward. Don't be afraid, and be strong because he's innocent," the suspect's father, Nabil Haffar, said.

Nabil Haffar said he hasn't seen his son since Wednesday. He denied reports that Muaz Haffer may left the country, because he doesn't have a valid passport, Mitchell reported.

"I'm 100 percent behind him. I'm supporting him," Nabil Haffar said.

NBC 5 Chicago

Haffar's father says his son is in the country and was simply scared to come to court Thursday. He says he is recovering from surgery.

Haffar's father says Muaz was too scared to go to court because of threats he says he has received from Malik's friends.

"Most likely, probably, he received severe threats, threatening words from somebody. I don't know," said Nabil Haffar, father of missing suspect. "He was scared. I'm telling you, he always tells me 'Somebody spotting me all the time, somebody in a threatening car.' "

Haffar's father believes his son is innocent, and he was a victim injured in the fight with Malik

ABC 7 Chicago

Nabil Haffar Invokes 5th Amendment Rights Against Self Incrimination

Chicago Suntimes

Murder Description

"UIC student Tombol Malik suffered as many as 20 blows, many with a U-shaped bicycle lock, in a fatal beating last weekend [July 9th, 2005] that fractured his skull in several places and crushed his nose, a source told the Chicago Sun-Times...An autopsy showed that Malik did not suffer defensive wounds to his arms or hands and that he suffered nearly 30 injuries, including lacerations and bruises...He also suffered several internal injuries, a source from the Cook County medical examiner's office said...His skull appeared to be fractured in five places, the source said... Cook County prosecutors said Malik fell to the ground during the attack and was repeatedly beaten and unable to defend himself...Haffar allegedly pounced on Malik, using both hands and then Malik's bicycle lock."



Chicago Sun Times

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