A Navy reservist accused of fleeing to Hong Kong after his wife’s body was found in a freezer has been arrested in Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia– A man accused of fleeing to Hong Kong after his wife’s body was found in a freezer in his Virginia apartment has been arrested, authorities said.

David Varela, a 38-year-old Navy reservist, was wanted for first-degree murder in the death of Lena M. Guerra, 39, who was found dead in their Norfolk apartment in February, FBI Director Kash Patel said. He announced in a social media post. He added that Varela had been on the run for more than two months, “but justice does not forget.”

Norfolk police said Thursday in a news release that Varela was returned to the United States on Wednesday and remains in California where he faces federal charges.

The notice filed Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco states that Varela was arrested on an unlawful flight warrant and charged with fleeing to Hong Kong from Virginia to avoid prosecution on charges of first-degree murder and concealing a body to prevent discovery.

On February 5, Norfolk police searched the home of Varela and Guerra, identified in an FBI affidavit as Lisa Maria Guerra Echavarría, after her brother reported her missing. Her brother had not been in contact with her for more than two weeks and investigators were unable to reach her or Varela.

Varela, an active-duty U.S. Navy reservist, did not respond to calls from his supervisor, who told police this was unusual, according to the affidavit. During the search, a woman was found dead in the kitchen refrigerator, and initial fingerprinting identified the woman as Echavarria.

Norfolk police said when they announced the charges against Varela that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide. Police did not reveal details about the motive or circumstances surrounding her death.

The Department of Homeland Security investigation found that Varela boarded a flight to Hong Kong on the same day as the search, 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 include an attorney who could comment on Varela’s behalf.