Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP8502) and 8 other sources
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

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

84%Moderate
Jane Doe — Hoboken, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1454
Jane Doe — Hoboken, New Jersey
UP1454 • Found Feb 9, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 24–34 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 57%166 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6054
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6054 • Found Jun 17, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 24
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 76%100 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brielle, New Jersey - unidentified case UP2274
Jane Doe — Brielle, New Jersey
UP2274 • Found Jun 15, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%45 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%123 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP2801
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP2801 • Found Jul 25, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%123 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP56403
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP56403 • Found Mar 15, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%126 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP14585
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP14585 • Found Sep 30, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%117 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP107089
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP107089 • Found Aug 10, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 0%202 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP70309
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP70309 • Found May 29, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%127 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP9105
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP9105 • Found Jul 17, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 86%150 lb vs 128 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP17517
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP17517 • Found Feb 1, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.