A Navy reservist is now the focus of an international manhunt after authorities discovered the body of his missing wife, 39-year-old Lina M. Guerra Echavarria, hidden inside a kitchen freezer in their Norfolk, Virginia, apartment. David Varela, 38, is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a body, and investigators believe he fled to Hong Kong shortly after Guerra’s brother reported her missing.
Norfolk Police officers found Guerra’s remains on Feb. 5, 2026, while executing a search warrant at an apartment on the 300 block of East Main Street inside the ICON building. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled the case a homicide. Guerra’s relatives in Colombia had last heard from her on Jan. 16, prompting her brother in Miami to contact police on Feb. 2 after more than two weeks without communication—a gap that raised alarm.
During that time, Varela fabricated an elaborate story. He told Guerra’s family in Colombia that she had been arrested for shoplifting and sentenced to five years in prison. He even shared a photo he claimed showed him visiting her behind bars, with her wearing what appeared to be an orange jail uniform. In messages turned over to investigators, Varela told Guerra’s sister-in-law, Paola Ramirez, that he “has not stopped crying” and “hasn’t eaten in more than a day” because of her alleged arrest.
Court documents later confirmed that Guerra had never been charged with or convicted of shoplifting.
The Norfolk Police Department is collaborating with the FBI, NCIS, Homeland Security Investigations, and Interpol as they search for Varela, an enlisted Navy reservist on active duty working as an electrician. Emergency data obtained from WhatsApp placed him in Hong Kong around Feb. 5—the same day Guerra’s body was found and one day after she was officially reported missing.
Varela enlisted in the Navy in 2007 and accumulated more than a decade of service, with a five-year break between 2012 and 2017. He first served aboard the USS San Francisco in 2008 and rejoined the Navy Reserve in Miami in 2017. He had recently stopped responding to his chain of command, behavior his supervisors described as highly unusual. In addition to state-level charges, he now faces federal charges for leaving the country to evade prosecution.
The U.S. Navy issued a statement confirming its involvement: “The Navy is aware of the ongoing investigation led by Norfolk Police Department involving the death of a Navy spouse in the Norfolk area and is in full cooperation with local, state, and federal law enforcement.”
Investigators noted that while Varela has relatives in Colombia, he has no known ties to Hong Kong or China. They believe his choice of destination was strategic—the United States suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in 2020 following an executive order by President Trump in response to Beijing’s national security law, which critics argued eroded the city’s autonomy. Without the treaty in place, returning Varela to face charges becomes significantly more challenging.
According to Guerra’s family, Varela had a history of controlling and abusive behavior. The couple met about 11 years ago in Miami, where she worked as a waitress and he was employed as a cook. They married soon after. Ramirez said Varela was jealous and prevented Guerra from working, socializing, studying, or going anywhere alone. They moved to Virginia roughly two years ago due to his military assignment.
“I want to emphasize that there had been violence before from David,” Ramirez told WTKR through a translator. “He had hit her previously, but she didn’t tell us because she didn’t want to worry us.”
Guerra’s cousin, Pilar Angel Echevarria, spoke with reporters from Colombia about the devastating loss. She said Guerra came from a small family and that their bond was more like that of sisters. They stayed in touch several times a day until the abrupt silence on Jan. 16.
The distance between Colombia and Virginia has deepened the family’s anguish as they try to piece together what happened. Echevarria said Guerra wanted to be cremated like her mother and hopes to travel to the U.S. to collect her cousin’s ashes when the case concludes. Guerra’s aunt, Elizabeth Echavarria, expressed the family’s sorrow: “It’s awful he took my little girl away.”
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi is pursuing extradition through Interpol by requesting a Red Notice—a tool used when no extradition treaty exists. He said he remains cautiously optimistic about the global search. The halted extradition agreement with Hong Kong complicates the situation, but authorities say they have strong leads regarding Varela’s whereabouts.
Authorities are asking the public for any information that could help locate Varela and urge anyone with tips to contact the Norfolk Police Department, the FBI, or local law enforcement.