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David Varela, a 38-year-old Navy Reservist, was wanted on a
first-degree murder charge in the death of Lina M. Guerra, 39,
who was found dead at their Norfolk apartment in February, FBI
Director Kash Patel announced in a social media post. Varela had
been on the run for more than two months, “but justice doesn’t
forget,” he said.
Varela was returned to the United States on Wednesday and
remains in California, where he faces federal charges, Norfolk
police said Thursday in a news release.
A notice filed Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco
states that Varela was arrested on an unlawful flight warrant
and accused of fleeing to Hong Kong from Virginia to avoid
prosecution for first-degree murder and concealing a dead body
to prevent detection.
On Feb. 5, Norfolk police searched the home of Varela and
Guerra, identified in an FBI affidavit as Lisa Maria Guerra
Echavarria, after her brother reported her missing. Her brother
hadn’t been in touch with her for more than two weeks and
detectives hadn’t been able to reach her or Varela.
Varela, a U.S. Navy Reservist on active duty, hadn’t responded
to calls from his supervisor, who told police that was unusual,
according to the affidavit. During the search, a woman was found
dead in the kitchen’s freezer, and preliminary fingerprints
determined the woman was Echavarria.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a
homicide, Norfolk police said when they announced charges
against Varela. Police did not release details of a motive or
the circumstances surrounding her death.
Homeland Security Investigations determined that Varela took a
flight to Hong Kong around the day the search took place,
according to the affidavit, which also noted that emergency
disclosure requests from WhatsApp showed location data
originating in Hong Kong.
Online court records do not list an attorney who could comment
of Varela’s behalf.
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