A manhunt is underway for a Navy reservist feared to have fled to Hong Kong after police discovered the physique of his lacking spouse stuffed inside a freezer at their Virginia residence.
Lina Guerra, 39, was discovered lifeless inside a freezer within the Norfolk house she shared with David Varela, 28, her husband of 11 years, on Feb. 5 — days after her brother reported her lacking when her household had not heard from her since Jan. 16, WAVY reported.
An post-mortem carried out by the Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner on Feb. 10 dominated her demise a murder.
The Norfolk Police Division has since charged Varela with first-degree homicide and concealing a lifeless physique to forestall detection.
The accused killer didn’t reply repeated calls from his chain of command, with superiors telling detectives the habits was uncommon for him.
Investigators with Homeland Safety, the Naval Felony Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FBI consider Varela fled on a flight to Hong Kong “on or about Feb. 5, 2026,” and stated there may be “possible trigger to consider that David Varela has fled the Commonwealth of Virginia in an try and keep away from prosecution,” in keeping with an affidavit obtained by WAVY.
Emergency disclosure requests to WhatsApp later revealed location knowledge pinging from Hong Kong.
NCIS stated Varela has household in Colombia however “doesn’t have any discernible ties to Hong Kong or China.”
As investigators proceed to seek for Varela, Guerra’s household is devastated by her demise, her aunt, Elizabeth Echavarria, advised WAVY from Colombia, including that the 2 met in Florida years in the past and married quickly after.
Throughout the two weeks the 39-year-old was lacking, Varela advised Guerra’s household in Colombia that she had been arrested and jailed on shoplifting prices, WTKR reported.
Family stated he even despatched a photograph of the pair collectively, claiming it confirmed him visiting her behind bars and that she gave the impression to be carrying an orange jumpsuit.
Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, stated Varela messaged her claiming he “has not stopped crying” and “hasn’t eaten in additional than a day” over his spouse’s supposed incarceration.
Courtroom data verify Guerra was by no means charged or convicted of shoplifting, WTKR reported.
Ramirez stated the household had lengthy feared for Guerra’s security, alleging Varela had been violent and jealous and wouldn’t let her work, have mates, examine or exit alone.
“I need to emphasize that there had been violence earlier than from David,” Ramirez advised WTKR.
“He had hit her beforehand, however she didn’t inform us as a result of she didn’t need to fear us. He gave the impression to be very non secular, very calm, regular, that’s why that is so surprising; we by no means imagined he’d do one thing like this.”
Varela served in no less than six states after enlisting within the Navy in 2007, the place he obtained a number of awards and decorations, 13 Information Now reported.
There may be rising concern that Varela fled to Hong Kong as a result of the extradition treaty with america has been suspended since August 2020, Ed Sales space, a Navy public affairs officer, advised the station.
“For those who wanted to purchase your self a while to the place legislation enforcement was not going to be on the lookout for you, this was a approach to do it,” Sales space stated.
“You’ll be able to’t homicide folks in Hong Kong, you may’t homicide folks in america, so that you’ve obtained that, however you don’t have a treaty in place for mutual extradition from one nation to the opposite.”
