A tragic incident has unfolded in Norfolk, Virginia, where a Navy reservist is suspected of fleeing to Hong Kong after his wife’s body was discovered in a freezer at their home. Lina Guerra, 39, was found dead in the freezer in the apartment she shared with her husband, David Varela, 28, on Feb. 5. Her brother had reported her missing after not hearing from her since Jan. 16.
An autopsy confirmed that Guerra’s death was a homicide, leading to Varela being charged with first-degree murder and concealing a dead body. However, Varela failed to respond to calls from his chain of command, prompting concerns about his whereabouts.
Investigators from Homeland Security, NCIS, and the FBI believe Varela fled to Hong Kong around Feb. 5, with location data from WhatsApp supporting this claim. While Varela has family in Colombia, he has no apparent ties to Hong Kong or China.
Guerra’s family, devastated by her death, revealed that Varela had falsely claimed she was arrested and jailed on shoplifting charges during the two weeks she was missing. They also expressed concerns about Varela’s violent and controlling behavior towards Guerra, alleging past incidents of abuse.
Varela’s military background raised concerns about his potential escape to Hong Kong, as the extradition treaty between the US and Hong Kong has been suspended since August 2020. This lack of extradition agreement complicates efforts to bring Varela to justice for Guerra’s murder.
The case has shocked the community and highlighted the importance of addressing domestic violence and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. As the manhunt for Varela continues, authorities are working diligently to locate him and bring him to justice for the tragic death of Lina Guerra.
