A wanted fugitive and U.S. Navy reservist from Norfolk in Virginia has been captured in Hong Kong following an international manhunt, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Thursday.
David Varela, 38, was apprehended on April 15 after evading law enforcement since February. Varela was wanted for the murder of his 39-year old wife, Lina Guerra.
While investigating the missing person’s case, detectives found a body at their Norfolk apartment in the 300 block of E Main Street. During the search, a woman was discovered in the kitchen’s freezer and preliminary fingerprints determined her identity, according to authorities.
Varela, a Navy Reservist on active duty, hadn’t responded to calls from his supervisor, who told law enforcement that it was unusual behavior for Varela, according to the affidavit.
During their investigation, Homeland Security Investigators had determined that Varela was no longer in the United States. He took a flight to Hong Kong around the same day that a search for his wife took place, the affidavit said. Emergency disclosure requests from WhatsApp showed his location data originating in Hong Kong.
Police did not release details of a motive or the circumstances surrounding her death.
Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, told local media that the family had long feared for Guerra’s safety, because Varela had been violent and jealous in the past.
“I want to emphasize that there had been violence before from David,” Ramirez told media outlet WTKR.
Varela was arrested on an unlawful flight warrant and accused of fleeing to Hong Kong from Virginia to avoid prosecution for first-degree murder and concealing a dead body to prevent detection, according to a notice filed on Wednesday in San Francisco federal court.
Varela currently remains in California where he is facing federal charges. Online court records do not show that he has a lawyer who could comment on his behalf regarding the charges.
Authorities said the case remains active and the investigation remains ongoing.