Murder in the High Desert-Part II

The small town of Alpine drastically changed during this time. The notion that a murderer lived amongst the normally peaceful residents pulled the community together.

By Evalice Arguello

Restaurant windows and grocery stores displayed MISSING posters with Verk’s smiling face on them. Everywhere you went in this sleepy town, you were reminded that a young girl was still missing but there was still hope that Zuzu would be found safe. As the investigation got underway, law enforcement focused heavily on their main suspect, Verk’s on and off again boyfriend, Robert Fabian. Not only had he suspiciously bought a drop cloth on the night that Zuzu was last seen but police soon discovered that Fabian had his white Mustang meticulously cleaned, destroying any evidence there might have been. Friends and acquaintances of Fabian reported that he began acting disturbingly strange in the days after Zuzu’s disappearance. Josh Cobos, a friend of Fabian told investigators that at approx. 6:30pm on Friday night, after news of Zuzu’s disappearance was made public, Robert told him, “If I know a really big secret and two people know it, then the other has to be dead.” All signs pointed to Fabian but sadly the investigators were unable to find any physical evidence that would lead them to Zuzu. 

Then, on February 3, 2017, A border patrol agent was on his regular duty and noticed a shallow grave in a mountain area of Alpine. This was an area that had already been searched so at first glance the agent wasn’t suspicious but as he neared, he saw that the grave contained the remains of Zuzu Verk, wrapped in a painter’s drop cloth. This heartbreaking discovery trembled the town of Alpine, Tx but her parents finally found some closure. The next feat would be mounting as much evidence to secure a murder charge against Robert Fabian, again pulling the community together. Instead of missing posters now there were bumper stickers and t-shirts emblazoned with JUSTICE FOR ZUZU. 

Zuzu Verk’s trial was moved to Caldwell County, and three years after her body was discovered, Robert Fabian was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison and an additional 20 years were added onto his sentence for tampering with a corpse. When the verdict was read Zuzu’s family and friends shared tears and hugs, the community of Alpine rejoiced in knowing justice had been served and the final closure to a young woman’s tragic story. 

A memorial was held at Sul Ross University, where Zuzu Verk was a student. The Beatles and Bob Dylan played as hundreds of people gathered to remember the young woman who was described as an avid outdoorswoman. “Zuzu was drawn to the majesty and wonders of this land and chose to live and work and study with others who love this place” Zuzu Verk did not get to finish her degree in Natural Resources Management but her family wants other students to be able to complete what their daughter couldn’t so they have set up the Zuzu Verk Memorial Scholarship Fund in Natural Resource Management. You can help by sending donations to: 

Zuzu Verk Memorial Scholarship Fund in Natural Resource Management SRSU Office of External Affairs
P.O. Box C-114
Alpine, Tx 79832 

432-837-8892