A doctor from the UK who was wanted in connection with the murder of a Colombian model found dead in a suitcase has been apprehended in Ecuador. Matthew Foster-Smith was taken into custody at Quito International Airport after being identified as a person of interest by authorities in Bogota investigating the death of Natalia Villalba.
The 46-year-old individual from Poole, Dorset, had denied any involvement in the crime just before his arrest. Foster-Smith claimed innocence, stating to the Sun that he was not responsible for the incident as he was watching a sports game while in Colombia.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that Foster-Smith was attempting to purchase a ticket to Europe when he was located through his phone calls made from the airport. Colombian prosecutors confirmed his arrest, citing evidence suggesting that he entered the victim’s apartment, assaulted her, and then attempted to conceal the crime before fleeing the scene.
Natalia Villalba’s body was discovered in a suitcase in a bathroom by a cleaner at the Morph Chico building in Bogota. It was revealed that Villalba had been in contact with a man from Texas before extending her stay in the apartment.
Authorities in Bogota acknowledged the assistance provided by Dorset Police in capturing Foster-Smith and emphasized their commitment to bringing him to justice for the alleged crimes of femicide and tampering with evidence. Foster-Smith had left Colombia for Ecuador shortly before his arrest, claiming to have received death threats from local criminals.
In a statement, Bogota mayor Carlos Fernando Galan praised the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies involved in locating and arresting Foster-Smith, the prime suspect in the murder of Natalia Villalba. Foster-Smith, who had left Colombia via the Rumichaca International Bridge, maintained his alibi of watching a football match at a bar before his departure.
