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A 38-year-old man, charged with the murder of his wife in Norfolk, Virginia, has been captured after he fled to Hong Kong two months ago, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief.
Lina M. Guerra Echavarria and David Varela. Photo: WTKR.David Varela was charged after his 39-year-old partner, Lina M. Guerra Echavarria, was found dead in a freezer at the couple’s home in early February.
On Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Twitter that Varela’s capture was an inter-agency effort: “FBI is announcing the successful overseas apprehension 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 inside a freezer in their Norfolk apartment.
A Twitter post from April 16, 2026 by FBI Director Kash Patel. Photo: Twitter.“Mr. Varela has been on the run for over two months attempting to avoid prosecution for these heinous crimes, but justice doesn’t forget,” he added.
NBC reported on Thursday that Varela had been apprehended in Hong Kong.
When HKFP asked the Hong Kong Police Force if they had cooperated with US authorities, a spokesperson on Friday said the force “acted in accordance with the law to foster police co-operation with other jurisdictions and will not comment on individual cases.”
The force did not answer directly as to whether it had cooperated with law enforcement in the US. However, WTKR News 3 in the US reported earlier that local police were working with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and national authorities on the case.
According to WAVY, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said an INTERPOL Red Notice had been issued to help with Varela’s arrest – used when an active extradition treaty is not available.
Hong Kong is among 196 members of INTERPOL. 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, a day after his wife was reported missing. Emergency disclosure requests from WhatsApp revealed location data originating in the city, an FBI affidavit said.
According to the Virginia State Police, a February 10 autopsy ruled Echavarria’s death a homicide. Varela is suspected of concealing a dead body to prevent detection and first-degree murder.
Authorities added that the suspect had no discernible ties to Hong Kong or China.
FBI Edgar Hoover building. Photo: Wikimedia commons. 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 Norfolk Police Department involving the death of a Navy spouse in the Norfolk area and is in full cooperation with local, state and Federal law enforcement. NCIS [Navy Criminal Investigative Service] is conducting a joint investigation with Norfolk Police Department.”
The US suspended its Agreement for the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders with Hong Kong in August 2020 after the city implemented a national security law.
English (US) ·