International Manhunt Launched After Navy Reservist Allegedly Murders Wife and Flees to China
An extensive international manhunt is currently in progress following the shocking case of a United States Navy reservist who is accused of murdering his wife, concealing her body in a freezer, and then fleeing to China. David Varela, aged 38, faces a first-degree murder charge filed on February 12 after the discovery of his wife, Lina Guerra, aged 39, deceased in their Norfolk, Virginia apartment, as confirmed by the Norfolk Police Department.
Discovery of the Crime and Initial Investigation
Lina Guerra was initially reported missing on February 4, prompting authorities to issue public appeals for information regarding her whereabouts. The situation took a grim turn when law enforcement officers, acting on concerns from relatives who had not heard from the couple for weeks, executed a search warrant at their residence. According to a federal affidavit obtained by the local NBC affiliate WAVY, officers discovered Guerra's body hidden inside the apartment's freezer.
Initially, her death was classified as 'undetermined,' but a medical examiner's report on February 10 confirmed it as a homicide. During the search, police recovered Guerra's mobile phone and noted Varela's Tesla vehicle parked outside the property. Varela's reserve supervisor informed detectives that the reservist had failed to respond to multiple calls, behavior described as highly unusual.
Flight to Hong Kong and Extradition Complications
Emergency disclosure requests submitted to WhatsApp, detailed within the affidavit, provided critical location data indicating that Varela's phone was pinging in Hong Kong. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) stated in an official communication to WAVY that while Varela has family connections in Colombia, he possesses no discernible ties to Hong Kong or China. Furthermore, he has not reported for duty as required and has ignored all communication attempts from his chain of command.
Varela's potential presence in Hong Kong significantly complicates efforts to secure his arrest due to the complex extradition landscape between the United States and the region. The US suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in 2020, citing concerns over the Chinese Communist Party's erosion of the area's autonomy. This suspension specifically affected agreements covering the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions.
Legal analyst Ed Booth, speaking to the local ABC affiliate 13 News Now, commented on the strategic implications, noting, 'If you needed to buy yourself some time to where law enforcement was not going to be looking for you, this was a way to do it.'
Coordinated International Response
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi informed 13 News Now that local authorities are actively collaborating with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to locate Varela. The investigation has also drawn in federal agencies, including NCIS, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fatehi emphasized the ongoing nature of the pursuit, stating, 'Now it’s a matter of time and luck to see when this particular suspect comes across police.'
Background of the Couple and Deception by the Suspect
Family members revealed that Guerra and Varela had been in a relationship for over a decade, having met in Miami before relocating to Virginia. Most of Guerra's family resides in Colombia. In a disturbing twist, relatives reported that during the period Guerra was missing, Varela deceived them by claiming she was incarcerated for shoplifting. He allegedly sent a fabricated photograph appearing to show Guerra in an orange jumpsuit and expressed profound distress over the false charges, telling family he had been crying for days and had stopped eating.
Court records later verified that Guerra had never been arrested for shoplifting. Paola Ramirez, Guerra's sister-in-law, disclosed in a translated interview with the local ABC affiliate WTKR that Varela had a history of violence. 'I want to emphasize that there had been violence before from David,' Ramirez stated. 'He had hit her previously, but she didn’t tell us because she didn’t want to worry us. He appeared to be very religious, very calm, normal, that’s why this is so shocking; we never imagined he’d do something like this.'
Family Tributes and Lingering Questions
Lina Guerra was remembered by her family as an empathetic, loving, and deeply family-oriented individual. Her aunt, Elizabeth Echavarria, told 13 News Now that the family remains devastated. 'She was a very important person to her siblings. We miss her terribly. We still haven’t gotten over the shock of that bad news,' Echavarria said. She also expressed confusion regarding Varela's ability to travel internationally, noting he had recently been injured and was using crutches.
The investigation continues as authorities work across borders to apprehend David Varela. The case underscores the challenges of international fugitive pursuits and the profound tragedy of domestic violence culminating in homicide.
