A Navy reservist, David Varela, accused of murdering his wife in Virginia and subsequently fleeing the country, has been arrested and is set to be extradited to the United States.
The 38-year-old Varela became the focus of an international manhunt after authorities discovered the body of his 39-year-old wife, Lina Maria Guerra, in a freezer at their Norfolk residence on February 5.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Varela’s arrest overseas in a public announcement.
“Significant news today… @FBI is reporting the successful overseas capture of David Varela, a Navy reservist aged 38, wanted for first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Lina Guerra,” Patel posted on X.
“Mr. Varela has been evading justice for over two months, but justice never forgets,” he added.
Patel did not disclose the exact location of Varela’s arrest, though it was suspected that he had fled to Hong Kong.
Investigators said Varela left the US on or about Feb. 5, the same day Guerra’s body was discovered.
She had been reported missing by her brother after he had not heard from her for two weeks.
Detectives had also been unable to reach Varela, an active-duty Navy reservist, and his Navy supervisor told police it was unusual for him not to return calls.
Guerra’s death was later ruled a homicide.
Virginia authorities issued two arrest warrants charging Varela with first-degree murder and concealing a dead body.
Federal investigators determined Varela boarded a flight to Hong Kong, and emergency disclosure requests from WhatsApp showed location information originating from there.
Authorities said Varela has family in Colombia but no known ties to Hong Kong or China.
Guerra’s loved ones told WTKR-TV that Varela was jealous and barred his wife from working, having friends or socializing alone.
“I want to emphasize that there had been violence before from David,” Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, told the news outlet through a translator.
“He had hit her previously, but she didn’t tell us because she didn’t want to worry us. He appeared to be very religious, very calm, normal. That’s why this is so shocking. We never imagined he’d do something like this.”
The news station reported receiving a tip from a woman who said she possibly met Varela in Hong Kong, where he allegedly asked her out.
“I was in Hong Kong with my friends. We met this man while waiting in line at an attraction,” she told the station through a translator. “He introduced himself as David and said he was looking for a Russian wife.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
