A 38-year-old man accused of murdering his wife in Norfolk, Virginia, has been captured after fleeing to Hong Kong two months ago, according to the head of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
David Varela was charged after his 39-year-old partner, Lina M. Guerra Echavarria, was found dead in a refrigerator at the couple’s home in early February.
On Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Twitter that Varela’s capture was an interagency effort: “The FBI is announcing the successful overseas capture 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. Lina’s body was found loose in their apartment.
“Mr. Varela has been on the run for more than two months in an attempt to avoid prosecution for these horrific crimes, but justice does not forget,” he added.
NBC reported on Thursday that Varela had been captured in Hong Kong.
When HKFP asked the Hong Kong Police Force whether it had cooperated with US authorities, a spokesman on Friday said the force “acted in accordance with the law to promote police cooperation with other jurisdictions and will not comment on individual cases”.
The force did not directly answer whether it had cooperated with US law enforcement. However, WTKR News 3 in the US reported earlier than local police were working with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and national authorities on the case.
According to to WAVY, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said an INTERPOL Red Notice had been issued to assist with Varela’s arrest – used when an active extradition treaty is not available.
Hong Kong is among INTERPOL’s 196 members. HKFP has reached out to the US State Department for comment.
Two months on the run
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In February, ABC reported that police in the US had found that Varela had flown to Hong Kong on February 5, the day after his wife was reported missing. Emergency disclosure requests from WhatsApp revealed location data originating from the city, the FBI said in a statement.
According to According to Virginia State Police, a Feb. 10 autopsy ruled Echavarria’s death a homicide. Varela allegedly hid a dead body to prevent discovery and first degree murder.
Authorities added that the suspect had no apparent ties to Hong Kong or China.
According to the US Navy, Varela is an enlisted reservist from Florida currently on active orders. He has over a decade of military experience.
“The Navy is aware of the ongoing investigation led by the Norfolk Police Department involving the death of a Navy spouse in the Norfolk area and is cooperating fully with local, state and federal law enforcement. NCIS (Navy Criminal Investigative Service) is conducting a joint investigation with the Norfolk Police Department.”
The US suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in August 2020 after the city implemented a national security law.
