US Navy reservist's mission was to find a new spouse after he killed his wife and stuffed her body in the freezer, police and victim's family say

A antheral accused of killing his wife and stuffing her assemblage successful their Virginia apartment's freezer earlier evading apprehension for months present seeks a caller spouse.

David Varela, 38, faces a first-degree execution charge successful the decease of 39-year-old Lina Guerra, the Norfolk Police Department announced successful February. The suspect besides faces a complaint of concealing a dormant assemblage to forestall detection, according to a national affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.

Now, national authorities person announced his arrest, and the victim's household has provided different details into the harrowing lawsuit that has stretched thousands of miles crossed the globe.

On Feb. 5, the Norfolk Police Department arrived astatine the Icon Norfolk Apartments located connected the 300 artifact of East Main Street successful Norfolk, Virginia. They had been called by Guerra's brother, who had reported that helium had not heard from his sister successful weeks, the affidavit stated.

Authorities learned that her husband, Varela, was an progressive reservist with the U.S. Navy and was reportedly not responding to calls from his contiguous supervisor, which was "unusual behaviour for him."

Officers searched the flat and recovered Guerra dormant successful the room freezer, according to tribunal documents. Her cellphone was successful the residence, portion Varela's Tesla was extracurricular successful the parking lot.

Authorities conducted an autopsy and ruled that Guerra's mode of decease was homicide by mode of blunt unit trauma and asphyxiation. Detectives learned, with assistance from national authorities, that Varela boarded a formation to Hong Kong "on oregon astir Feb. 5, 2026," with WhatsApp determination information "originating" determination arsenic well, according to the affidavit.

Investigators besides learned that Varela had household successful Colombia, though they did not spot "any discernible ties" to Hong Kong oregon China.

Five days aft uncovering Guerra's body, authorities charged Varela with murder. And connected Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that Varela was apprehended.

"Mr. Varela has been connected the tally for implicit 2 months attempting to debar prosecution for these heinous crimes, but justness doesn't forget," Patel said.

Guerra besides has household successful Colombia, and they told Norfolk CBS affiliate WTKR that Varela displayed abusive behaviour successful the past, specified arsenic not allowing her to person a job, person friends, oregon permission their location alone. He besides had allegedly been physically abusive.

"He had deed her previously, but she didn't archer america due to the fact that she didn't privation to interest us," said Guerra's sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, done a translator. "He appeared to beryllium precise religious, precise calm, normal, that's wherefore this is truthful shocking; we ne'er imagined he'd bash thing similar this."

On Friday, the determination outlet said it received a connection from a pistillate successful Russia saying she suspected she and her person had met Varela successful Hong Kong.

"I was successful Hong Kong with my friends," the pistillate — besides speaking done a translator — told WTKR. "We met this antheral portion waiting successful enactment astatine an attraction. He introduced himself arsenic David and said helium was looking for a Russian wife."

When the pistillate continued talking with the antheral — alleged to beryllium Varela, who adjacent reportedly planned a travel for her to sojourn him again — her person looked him up and recovered U.S. reports that helium was wanted.

"What we saw shocked america and we decided to get successful interaction with you," the pistillate said, providing 2 telephone numbers she said were his. When the outlet's investigative newsman utilized Telegram to telephone him via video, they said a antheral who seemed to beryllium Varela picked up.

Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi has antecedently expressed his tendency to extradite Varela to Virginia to look his charges.