Authorities have taken 46-year-old Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith into custody at Quito International Airport. The arrest follows the discovery of 36-year-old Natalia Villalba, whose body was found inside a suitcase in a Bogota apartment.
Investigators in Colombia allege that the suspect, a resident of Bournemouth, Dorset, killed Ms. Villalba on June 18. Officials claim he beat the victim to death before hiding her body in luggage and leaving the area. Following the crime, Colombian prosecutors secured an arrest warrant and worked with Interpol to issue a Red Notice.
Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan confirmed that Dorset Police helped track the suspect. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated they are providing assistance to the detained man and remain in contact with regional officials.
