Updated 1:30 p.m. March 17 to reflect grand jury indictment.

Zuzu Renee Verk

Robert Fabian (Alpine Police Department)

Zuzu Renee Verk's boyfriend has been indicted by a Brewster County grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder a month after authorities found her remains in a shallow grave near where the 22-year-old North Texas woman disappeared months ago, Alpine police said Friday.

Bail has been set at $750,000 for Robert Fabian. He was arrested Feb. 4 on a warrant for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence by concealing a human corpse, Alpine police said.

He bought plastic painters drop cloths, like the ones the body was wrapped in, the night she went missing in October, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Fabian was named a suspect two weeks after Verk's disappearance

A judge met with Robert Fabian at the Brewster County Jail Feb. 6 for his arraignment, KOSA-TV in Odessa reported. If Fabian is able to post bond, he will have to surrender his passport.

Meanwhile, the remains were transported Sunday afternoon to the University of Texas, where authorities later confirmed that the remains were those of Verk.

"Thank God," Verk's mother, Lori Verk, said after the grave was found Friday. "Thank God. Let it be over."

Verk's family was escorted Saturday evening to the site where the remains were found. Meanwhile, police began searching Fabian's family home, WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reported.

Police just moved in & started searching Fabian's family home. His sister & mother have remained persons interest in #zuzuverk disappearance pic.twitter.com/OKrbiCMY7S — Todd Unger (@ToddNEWS) February 4, 2017

The remains have features that are consistent with the 22-year-old, Alpine police told KOSA on Saturday.

Verk's family issued a statement Sunday thanking family, friends and the community for their support during the months-long search, KWES-TV in Midland reported.

"As our family awaits the likely news that our worst fears have been realized, our sorrow has grown alongside a sense of relief from the constant state of not knowing," wrote her father, Glenn Verk. "Zuzu has been a bright light in our lives. It has been our greatest challenge to go forward these last months without her joyous laugh, fierce idealism and heart-melting smile, knowing we may all never have them again."

The statement concluded: "As we carry on, we look forward to the day we witness justice delivered for Zuzu."

A Border Patrol agent stumbled upon the grave while servicing equipment and called the Brewster County Sheriff's Office about 10 a.m. Friday, the sheriff's office said. The remains were found just northwest of Alpine, where Verk was last seen in October.

Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said law enforcement personnel on foot searched the brushy area Saturday in hopes of recovering additional evidence.

An attorney for Fabian didn't return messages for comment Saturday.

A prosecutor from the state attorney general's office is handling the case, according to Dodson, because the district attorney in office at the time of Verk's disappearance finished his term at the end of 2016.

1 / 7A leaflet taped to the window of this business in Alpine gives a full description of Zuzu Verk, a Sul Ross University junior who was last seen Oct. 12. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor) 2 / 7Kelley Janysek, of Texas Search and Rescue searches the rugged Brewster County terrain on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor) 3 / 7Dawn Keller (in vehicle), West Texas Division Leader of Texas Search and Rescue speaks with fellow team members searching Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor) 4 / 7Kelley Janysek, a member of Texas Search and Rescue checks out a small cave Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 while searching for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor) 5 / 7Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson talks with Dawn Keller, West Texas Division Leader for Texas Search and Rescue about the ground her team covered Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 in their search for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor) 6 / 7Members of Texas Search and Rescue check out a culvert Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 during their search for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor) 7 / 7Members of Texas Search and Rescue pause to discuss their plan for searching a hillside between Marfa and Alpine, Texas while searching Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 for Zuzu Verk.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor)

Verk graduated from Timber Creek High School in Keller and studied conservation biology at Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

Lori Verk has said that her daughter and Fabian went to the movies with friends on Oct. 11. Zuzu didn't show up for work or an exam the next day.

Fabian chose not to speak to a grand jury about Verk's disappearance in December, when he was questioned about his side of the story.

Earlier in the investigation, he told police that Verk left his home about 3 a.m. Oct. 12, The Washington Post reported. Neighbors told police they heard the couple arguing the night of Oct. 11, but Fabian denied that when he spoke to Lori Verk days later, the family said.

Fabian's downstairs neighbor John Franco told KOSA that the couple made dinner about 9 or 10 p.m. Oct. 11.

"You could smell their food, and you can hear their conversation and then laugh a little bit," he said. "Then, it got quiet like after 11 p.m."

Soon after, Franco and his girlfriend heard "shut the [expletive] up" and then nothing else.

The couple fought often, he said, but that night Fabian kept pacing across the apartment. Then, Franco's girlfriend heard a loud thump just before 3 a.m., he told the station.

"She wanted me to go check, so I went to go check, and it was just Robert," Franco said.

He said he saw Fabian get into his car alone and that Verk's car was parked outside until Oct. 14.

Among the people of interest identified in the case is Fabian's friend Chris Estrada.

Estrada was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and evading arrest on Jan. 22. Alpine police said he led officers on a short chase after running a stop sign in his Ford Mustang, which was previously seized as part of the investigation.

Alpine police are assisting the Brewster County Sheriff's Office with collecting evidence. Forensic teams from San Angelo and El Paso also helped with the investigation.

Verk's parents moved to Alpine to search for their daughter full time, The Washington Post reported. Her mother said many people knew the 22-year-old because of her conservation work and her job at Dollar General.

"She reflects who this community is," she said. "She's kind of quirky and artsy and a lover of the outdoors. She's become an unofficial daughter to this community and this university."

Staff writers Claire Ballor and Tom Steele, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.