A Navy reservist has been apprehended on suspicion of killing his wife in Virginia and then fleeing the country. David Barrera, 38, was sought by authorities after the body of Lina Maria Guerra, 39, was found in the freezer of their Norfolk home on February 5.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the overseas arrest, stating, “More big news today…the @FBI is announcing the successful arrest overseas of David Varela, a 38-year-old Navy reservist wanted on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his wife Lina Guerra.” He added that Barrera had managed to evade prosecution for over two months, but justice would ultimately be served.
While the specific location of Barrera’s capture hasn’t been disclosed, reports suggest he may have fled to Hong Kong immediately after Guerra’s body was discovered. Interestingly, she had been reported missing by her brother after he hadn’t heard from her for two weeks.
Authorities noted that detectives struggled to contact Varela, and his Navy superiors found it unusual that he hadn’t responded to calls.
The cause of Guerra’s death was determined to be homicide. Virginia officials have issued two arrest warrants against Barrera, charging him with first-degree murder and concealing a body.
Federal investigators noted that Barrera boarded a flight to Hong Kong, and they were able to trace him via an emergency WhatsApp message. Although he has family in Colombia, he reportedly does not have established ties to Hong Kong or China.
According to Guerra’s relatives, Barrera was possessive and discouraged her from having a job or socializing with others. Her sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, mentioned, “I want to emphasize that David has assaulted me before. He hit her but she didn’t share this with us because she didn’t want to worry anyone. He seemed like a normal person, which is what makes this so shocking.”
Additionally, a tip was received regarding a woman who claimed to have encountered Varela in Hong Kong, where he allegedly asked her out on a date while introducing himself as David.
Efforts are ongoing to gather more information from federal agencies including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
