Authorities are seeking David Varela after his wife, Lina Guerra, was found dead in their apartment.
NORFOLK, VA — A Navy reservist charged with killing his wife in Norfolk and hiding her body in a kitchen freezer fled the United States on a flight to Hong Kong, police said, as local and federal agencies widened an international search for the suspect.
Detectives say 38-year-old David Varela left the country on Feb. 5, the same day officers found the body of his wife, Lina Guerra, 39, during a search of the couple’s apartment. The case has drawn attention because of the rapid move from a missing-person report to a murder charge, and because investigators now face the challenges of locating and returning a suspect believed to be overseas.
Guerra’s family last heard from her on Jan. 16, relatives told police. As days passed without contact, family members grew alarmed, and her brother reported her missing in early February, authorities said. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence and went to the apartment on Feb. 5. Inside, police said, they found Guerra’s body in the freezer in the kitchen. An autopsy later ruled her death a homicide, and Norfolk police obtained warrants charging Varela with first-degree murder and with concealing a dead body to prevent detection.
By the time detectives were moving to arrest him, Varela had vanished. Investigators said records and information reviewed during the early stages of the case indicate he traveled by air to Hong Kong on or about Feb. 5. Police said they have not been able to reach him since, and his whereabouts within Hong Kong are not known. The search has drawn in multiple agencies, including federal investigators and military law enforcement, as authorities work to track travel records and any digital trail left after his departure.
Officials said they were first tipped off to Varela’s disappearance through a mix of missed contacts and emerging evidence. Navy leaders told investigators that Varela stopped responding to his chain of command in a way they described as unusual, raising concerns as the missing-person investigation accelerated. Law enforcement also reviewed account activity and messaging information that they say supports their belief he is in Hong Kong. Police have not publicly described a motive, and they have not released details about how Guerra was killed, saying the investigation remains active.
Family members in Colombia, where relatives of Guerra live, told reporters they felt misled during the days when she was missing. Paola Ramirez, who is married to Guerra’s brother, said the family repeatedly asked Varela what had happened and was given explanations that did not match what they later learned from authorities. Ramirez said Varela told the family that Guerra had been arrested on a shoplifting accusation, and he claimed she was in jail. She said he sent messages that sounded distraught and even provided an image meant to support that claim. Court records later showed no such case against Guerra, Ramirez said through a translator.
Ramirez described Guerra as warm and devoted to her family, and she said the loss has shaken relatives across borders. “Lina was the pillar of our family,” Ramirez said through a translator. “She put others above herself.” Ramirez also said the family believes Guerra had faced violence in the past but kept it quiet because she did not want relatives to worry. Police have not publicly confirmed any prior calls for service or protective orders, and officials have not said whether past reports, if any, will be part of the evidence presented in court.
The case centers on the couple’s home in Norfolk, a coastal city with a large military presence tied to the world’s largest naval base and other installations across Hampton Roads. Investigators said they began building the timeline by confirming Guerra’s last known communications, checking whether she appeared at work or other routine appointments, and interviewing relatives who reported weeks of silence. Detectives said the missing-person report became urgent because the lack of contact was out of character for Guerra, and because relatives said they had no clear explanation for why she had disappeared.
Authorities have released limited details about the search warrant and what officers found beyond the body, saying they are protecting the integrity of the case as they pursue a suspect overseas. Police have also not said whether they recovered surveillance video, phone data, or other records that might show Varela’s movements in the days before he left. Investigators said they will present evidence in court once he is in custody, and they urged anyone with information about his location to contact law enforcement.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said the city is working to bring Varela back to face the charges. The next steps depend on locating him, confirming his identity, and navigating the legal process required to return a suspect from another jurisdiction. Even when a suspect is found, authorities must rely on cooperation between governments and on local rules that govern detention and surrender. Officials said they are also coordinating with military investigators because the suspect is a Navy reservist who, according to police, was on active duty.
Complicating matters is the uncertain path for extradition from Hong Kong to the United States. The United States suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in 2020, and China later announced its own suspension of related legal cooperation. Legal experts say that does not make every return impossible, but it can narrow the available routes and add time and uncertainty. Investigators in Norfolk have not said what specific mechanism they would use if Varela is located, but they said they are pursuing every available option through federal channels.
In the meantime, the criminal case in Virginia is largely on hold because the accused is not in custody. Court hearings tied to an arrest warrant and initial appearance cannot proceed until he is brought before a judge. Prosecutors said the murder charge and the charge of concealing a body remain active, and they expect additional procedural steps once Varela is located and returned. Authorities have not announced any scheduled court date, and they have not said when they will release more information about the autopsy findings or the physical evidence recovered from the apartment.
Neighbors and community members have reacted with shock as details emerged about the search and the discovery in the freezer. Some residents said the case felt especially disturbing because it unfolded in an ordinary apartment setting, and because it started as a report of a missing woman. Friends and relatives described Guerra as hardworking and close to her family, and they said the weeks of silence before she was found were agonizing. Ramirez said the family is focused on honoring Guerra’s life while pressing authorities to keep searching until Varela is found.
Police said the investigation remains active on two fronts: building the criminal case around Guerra’s death and tracking the suspect’s movements after he left Virginia. Investigators said they are reviewing travel information and possible financial activity while working with federal partners to circulate identifying information internationally. Officials said they do not know whether Varela has tried to move beyond Hong Kong or whether he has any contacts there, and they have not released information about where he may be staying.
As of Tuesday, Varela had not been arrested, and authorities said they were still treating the case as an active international manhunt. Investigators said the next major milestone will be locating him and securing a lawful return to Virginia to face the charges in Norfolk.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.