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A Navy reservist accused of murdering his wife in Virginia and subsequently fleeing the country has been apprehended and is set to face extradition to the United States.
The suspect, 38-year-old David Varela, became the subject of an international search after the body of his 39-year-old wife, Lina Maria Guerra, was discovered inside a freezer at their Norfolk home on February 5. His arrest was confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Today brings significant news,” wrote Patel on the social media platform X. “The FBI announces the successful overseas capture of David Varela, a Navy reservist wanted for the first-degree murder of his wife, Lina Guerra. For over two months, Varela has evaded capture, attempting to escape prosecution for these grave offenses, but justice is relentless.”
Lina Maria Guerra was reported missing by her brother on February 2, 2026, after he failed to hear from her for two weeks. (Paul Yeung/Bloomberg)
While Patel did not disclose the location of Varela’s arrest, it is believed he had fled to Hong Kong. According to investigators, Varela left the United States around February 5, coinciding with the discovery of Guerra’s body.
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.
Lina Maria Guerra was found dead in her Norfolk, Virginia home on Feb. 5, 2026. (Norfolk Police Department)
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 going out 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.
FBI Director Kash Patel stands silently during a press conference on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty)
“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.
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