A Navy reservist is now the focus of an international manhunt after police say he murdered his wife in Virginia and hid her body inside a freezer before fleeing the country.
Authorities in Norfolk, Virginia, charged David Varela with first-degree murder and concealing a dead body after his wife, Lina Guerra, was found dead inside a freezer in the apartment the couple shared. Guerra, 39, had been missing for weeks before her body was discovered on Feb. 5. Investigators later confirmed through an autopsy on Feb. 10 that her death was a homicide.
The case began when Guerra’s brother reported her missing after the family had not heard from her since Jan. 16. As relatives in Colombia grew increasingly worried, police launched an investigation that eventually led to the grim discovery inside the couple’s Norfolk residence.
According to reports, Varela, who had been married to Guerra for 11 years, quickly became a suspect after law enforcement said he behaved unusually and stopped responding to calls from his military chain of command. Officials noted that this lack of communication was out of character for him, raising further concern about his whereabouts.
Investigators from Homeland Security, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FBI believe Varela fled the United States around the same time Guerra’s body was found. Authorities say there is probable cause to believe he left Virginia to avoid prosecution, and evidence suggests he boarded a flight to Hong Kong on or about Feb. 5.
Further supporting that theory, emergency disclosure requests made to WhatsApp reportedly revealed location data placing Varela in Hong Kong. NCIS officials also said that while Varela has family in Colombia, he does not appear to have clear personal ties to Hong Kong or China, making his choice of destination particularly suspicious.
Family members of Lina Guerra described the news as devastating. Her aunt, Elizabeth Echavarria, said the couple met years ago in Florida and married soon afterward. But relatives claim Guerra’s marriage was troubled and that they had long feared for her safety.
Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, alleged that Varela was jealous and controlling, and claimed he had prevented Guerra from working, socializing, studying, or going out alone. Ramirez also stated that there had been violence in the past, saying Guerra had been hit before but kept it quiet because she didn’t want to worry her loved ones.
During the weeks Lina Guerra was missing, relatives said Varela attempted to mislead them. According to reports, he told Guerra’s family that she had been arrested and jailed for shoplifting. He even allegedly sent a photo claiming it showed him visiting her behind bars, suggesting she was wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. He also reportedly sent emotional messages to family members, claiming he was distraught, crying constantly, and unable to eat.
However, court records later confirmed Guerra had never been charged or convicted of shoplifting, undermining Varela’s story and deepening suspicions that he was deliberately buying time.
Varela, who enlisted in the Navy in 2007, reportedly served in multiple states and earned several awards and decorations throughout his military career. But now his service record has been overshadowed by the allegations against him and the growing international search effort.
There is also concern that Hong Kong may have been chosen strategically. A Navy public affairs officer noted that Hong Kong’s extradition treaty with the United States has been suspended since 2020, which could complicate efforts to bring Varela back to face charges.
For now, investigators continue to track his movements as Guerra’s family mourns her death and waits for justice.
