A 38-year-old man, charged with the murder of his wife in Norfolk, Virginia, has fled to Hong Kong, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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.
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Police say Varela flew to Hong Kong on February 5, a day after his wife was reported missing, ABC reported. Emergency disclosure requests from WhatsApp showed 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.
WTKR News 3 reported that local police were working with the The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and national authorities on the case to return Varela to the US.
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.”
Hong Kong is among 196 members of INTERPOL.
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.