Navy reservist accused of murdering wife and hiding her body in freezer arrested after international manhunt

A Navy reservist accused of murdering his wife in Virginia and fleeing the country has been arrested and is expected to be extradited to the United States.David Varela, 38, sparked an international manhunt after the body of Lina Maria Guerra, 39, was found inside a freezer in their Norfolk home on Feb.5.He was arrested overseas, FBI Director Kash Patel announced.“More big news today… @FBI is announcing the successful overseas apprehension of David Varela, a 38-year-old Navy reservist who is wanted for first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Lina Guerra,” Patel wrote on X.“Mr.

Varela has been on the run for over two months attempting to avoid prosecution for these heinous crimes, but justice doesn’t forget.”Patel did not specify where Varela was captured, but he was believed to have 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.

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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 emp...