A British medic, Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, 46, from Poole, Dorset, has been arrested in Ecuador in connection with the murder of Colombian model Natalia Villalba, 36, whose body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in her rented apartment in Bogota.
Arrest and Charges
Colombian prosecutors confirmed Foster-Smith's detention overnight, stating that an arrest warrant had been issued and an Interpol Red Notice led to his apprehension by Ecuador's National Police at Quito International Airport. He is accused of aggravated femicide and concealment, alteration, or destruction of material evidence.
The Crime
According to the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI), Foster-Smith allegedly entered Villalba's apartment in the Chico neighbourhood of northern Bogota on June 18, physically assaulted her until she died, and then placed her body inside a suitcase. He is said to have manipulated the crime scene and fled the location.
Discovery of the Body
Villalba's body was found by a cleaner beneath a running shower in the bathroom of the seventh-floor apartment at the Morph Chico building after her rental period had expired. Her mother, Claudia, reported that her daughter stopped answering calls on June 20, the day Foster-Smith was allegedly seen leaving the apartment block.
Foster-Smith's Denial
Speaking to The Sun a day before his arrest, Foster-Smith maintained his innocence, claiming, 'It wasn't me. I was watching England versus Croatia on a big screen in an Irish bar.' He added that he had left Colombia due to death threats from local gangsters and was planning to fly back to the UK.
Investigation and Evidence
Security cameras allegedly captured Foster-Smith carrying bedsheets to a laundry room before departing the building. He fled Colombia on June 21 via the Rumichaca International Bridge into Ecuador. Colombian authorities are working to extradite him to face prosecution.
