A shocking murder case out of Virginia has taken an international turn after a Navy reservist accused of killing his wife was finally captured following a global manhunt.
Lina M. Guerra Echavarria, 39, was reported missing on February 2 by her brother. Just three days later, investigators made a horrifying discovery — her body was found inside a freezer in her own kitchen.
Authorities quickly ruled her death a homicide, and her husband, 38-year-old David Varela, was charged with her murder. But by the time police moved in, he had already vanished.
For more than two months, Varela remained on the run — until now.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Wednesday that Varela had been arrested overseas after allegedly trying to dodge justice across international borders. While officials have not publicly confirmed the exact location, reports indicate digital data traced him to Hong Kong.
Investigators say Varela had no known ties to Hong Kong or China, though he does have family in Colombia — the same country where Echavarria’s loved ones live.
Her family has since spoken out, painting a disturbing picture of the relationship. Through a translator, they claimed Varela was controlling and jealous, allegedly preventing her from working, studying, or even going out alone.
“I want to emphasize that there had been violence before,” a family member said.
In a chilling twist, Varela allegedly tried to cover his tracks by telling Echavarria’s family she had been arrested for shoplifting — even sending a photo of her in what appeared to be a jail uniform. But court records show she was never charged with any such crime.
Meanwhile, her grieving family is still struggling to bring her remains home. They say efforts to retrieve her ashes have been complicated, leaving them unable to properly lay her to rest.
Now that Varela is in custody, he is expected to be extradited back to the U.S. to face charges.