British medic Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, has been arrested in Ecuador over the murder of Colombian model Natalia Villalba Angarita, 36, whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in her Bogotá apartment.
Cleaning staff discovered Villalba's remains on June 22 after the rental period ended. The shower was still running, and a grey suitcase in the bathroom contained her body. Foster-Smith, from Poole, Dorset, had been named as a suspect and had left Colombia a day earlier, using the World Cup as an alibi. He told The Sun: 'I was watching England versus Croatia on a big screen in an Irish bar, so it wasn’t me.'
Colombian prosecutors confirmed his arrest overnight, stating he allegedly beat the victim to death and tried to conceal the crime. An Interpol Red Notice led to his apprehension at Quito International Airport. The Attorney General's Office said he faces charges of aggravated femicide and concealment of evidence.
Background of Suspect
Foster-Smith has a history of stalking in the UK. In 2020, he was jailed for 18 months for stalking an ex and posting revenge porn. In September 2024, he was charged with stalking another woman but skipped bail, leading to a public manhunt. He was later sentenced to two years and two months at Bournemouth Crown Court. Detective Constable Thomas Norman said at the time that his victim 'continued to live in fear' and her life had been 'destroyed'.
Victim's Family Seeks Justice
Villalba's mother, Claudia, expressed concern after her daughter stopped taking calls on June 18, the same day Foster-Smith was reportedly seen leaving her apartment. CCTV showed him taking bedsheets to a laundry room. Claudia said: 'All we want is for the truth to come out.' The body has not yet been released to the family.
Investigators noted Villalba initially checked into the apartment with a man from Texas from June 3 to 7, then extended her stay until June 21. Foster-Smith crossed into Ecuador via the Rumichaca International Bridge on June 21.
Legal Consequences
If convicted, Foster-Smith faces 40 to 50 years in prison for aggravated femicide. The foundation Justicia Para Todos called for a thorough investigation with a gender perspective. Colombian authorities coordinated with Interpol and Ecuadorian police to secure the arrest.
