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A Navy reservist, accused of killing his wife in Virginia and escaping abroad, has been captured and is anticipated to be extradited back to the U.S.
David Varela, 38, became the subject of an international search after Lina Maria Guerra, 39, was discovered deceased in a freezer at their Norfolk residence on February 5.
His arrest took place overseas, as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Breaking news today… The @FBI is announcing the successful overseas capture of David Varela, a 38-year-old Navy reservist wanted for the first-degree murder of his wife, Lina Guerra,” Patel shared on X.
“Mr. Varela has been evading prosecution for these appalling crimes for more than two months, but justice remains relentless,” he added.
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.
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.