A UK physician suspected in the killing of a Colombian model found in a suitcase has been apprehended in Ecuador. Matthew Foster-Smith, detained at the Quito International Airport, was identified as the individual sought by authorities in Bogota regarding the death of Natalia Villalba.
The 46-year-old from Poole, Dorset, maintained his innocence prior to his arrest, stating, “It wasn’t me. I was watching England,” after departing Colombia before the discovery of Natalia’s body. Upon his arrest at the airport, a source revealed that he was traced through phone calls attempting to purchase a ticket to Europe.
Colombian prosecutors confirmed his arrest, stating that evidence suggests he entered the victim’s apartment alone, assaulted her, placed her body in a suitcase, and attempted to conceal the crime scene before fleeing. The Attorney General’s Office of Colombia intends to prosecute him for aggravated femicide and tampering with evidence.
Natalia’s body was discovered in a suitcase under a running shower in a Bogota apartment. Her mother revealed that Natalia had stopped answering calls, and investigators found she had checked in with a man from Texas before extending her stay.
Bogota mayor Carlos Fernando Galan acknowledged Dorset Police’s assistance in the arrest, emphasizing the collaborative effort involving multiple agencies. Foster-Smith departed Colombia via the Rumichaca International Bridge before his arrest, claiming he had a solid alibi and had left due to death threats.
Overall, the suspect’s capture in Ecuador marks a significant development in the investigation into the tragic death of Natalia Villalba.