BOGOTÁ, Colombia — A British man has been arrested in Ecuador in connection with the death of a Colombian woman whose body was discovered inside a suitcase in her apartment in Bogotá, authorities said.
The suspect, identified by Colombian prosecutors as Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, was detained at Quito International Airport by Ecuadorian authorities as he allegedly attempted to board a flight to the United Kingdom. His arrest followed a joint investigation involving Colombian police, Ecuadorian authorities, Interpol, and British law enforcement.
According to the BBC, the victim, Natalia Villalba Angarita, a 36-year-old Colombian model, was found dead inside a suitcase concealed in the bathroom of her apartment in northern Bogotá after family members reported her missing. Colombian prosecutors allege that Foster-Smith was the last person seen with Villalba before her death.
Investigators said surveillance footage captured Foster-Smith entering the victim’s apartment building on June 17 and leaving the following day. Prosecutors allege he attempted to conceal evidence before fleeing Colombia by crossing into Ecuador. Authorities have accused him of aggravated femicide and tampering with evidence, charges that carry potential prison sentences of between 40 and 50 years under Colombian law if convicted.
The BBC reported that Colombian investigators are working to extradite Foster-Smith from Ecuador to face prosecution. The suspect has denied any involvement in Villalba’s death and has previously claimed he was elsewhere at the time of the alleged killing. However, prosecutors say evidence gathered during the investigation contradicts elements of his account.
Foster-Smith was previously convicted in the United Kingdom in separate stalking-related cases and had been struck off the UK medical register. Those earlier convictions are unrelated to the current homicide investigation but have attracted additional public attention following his arrest.
Colombian authorities said forensic examinations and digital evidence remain central to the investigation as prosecutors prepare formal extradition proceedings. Officials have urged the public to avoid speculation while the criminal case continues.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Foster-Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.