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 condominium 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 performed by the Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner on Feb. 10 dominated her loss of life 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 did not reply repeated calls from his chain of command, with superiors telling detectives the habits was uncommon for him.
Investigators with Homeland Safety, the Naval Legal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FBI consider Varela fled on a flight to Hong Kong “on or about Feb. 5, 2026,” and mentioned there may be “possible trigger to consider that David Varela has fled the Commonwealth of Virginia in an try to keep away from prosecution,” in accordance with an affidavit obtained by WAVY.
Emergency disclosure requests to WhatsApp later revealed location information pinging from Hong Kong.
NCIS mentioned 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 loss of life, her aunt, Elizabeth Echavarria, advised WAVY from Colombia, including that the 2 met in Florida years in the past and married quickly after.
Through 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 costs, WTKR reported.
Family mentioned he even despatched a photograph of the pair collectively, claiming it confirmed him visiting her behind bars and that she seemed to be sporting an orange jumpsuit.
Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, mentioned Varela messaged her claiming he “has not stopped crying” and “hasn’t eaten in additional than a day” over his spouse’s supposed incarceration.
Court docket information affirm Guerra was by no means charged or convicted of shoplifting, WTKR reported.
Ramirez mentioned the household had lengthy feared for Guerra’s security, alleging Varela had been violent and jealous and wouldn’t let her work, have mates, research or exit alone.
“I wish 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 wish to fear us. He seemed to be very spiritual, very calm, regular, that’s why that is so stunning; we by no means imagined he’d do one thing like this.”
Varela served in at the least six states after enlisting within the Navy in 2007, the place he acquired a number of awards and decorations, 13 Information Now reported.
There’s rising concern that Varela fled to Hong Kong as a result of the extradition treaty with the US has been suspended since August 2020, Ed Sales space, a Navy public affairs officer, advised the station.
“If you happen to 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 solution to do it,” Sales space mentioned.
“You possibly can’t homicide individuals in Hong Kong, you’ll be able to’t homicide individuals in the US, so that you’ve received that, however you don’t have a treaty in place for mutual extradition from one nation to the opposite.”
