A Navy reservist from Virginia — accused of murdering his wife after her body was found in a freezer — was arrested at the conclusion of a two-month-long international manhunt, authorities said Wednesday.
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David Varela, 38, will face a first-degree murder charge following this “successful overseas apprehension,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
Varela “has been on the run for over two months attempting to avoid prosecution for these heinous crimes, but justice doesn’t forget,” Patel added.
Lina M. Guerra, 39, was reported missing on Feb. 4 and the Norfolk medical examiner ruled her death to be a homicide.
“Lina’s body was found inside a freezer in their Norfolk apartment,” according to Patel.
Before her body was found, Guerra was the subject of a “critical missing adult alert” by Virginia State Police.
The 4-foot-9, 100-pound woman’s “disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency,” Virginia police said at the time.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
