A British doctor who was being sought in connection with the murder of a Colombian model found dead in a suitcase has been apprehended in Ecuador. Matthew Foster-Smith, aged 46 and from Poole, Dorset, was taken into custody at Quito International Airport. Local authorities in Bogota had identified him as a person of interest in the case of Natalia Villalba’s violent death.
Foster-Smith had professed his innocence just before his arrest, stating to the Sun that he was not involved and was watching a football match when the crime occurred. Following his detention at the airport, it was revealed that his location was tracked through phone calls made while attempting to purchase a ticket to Europe.
Colombian prosecutors confirmed the arrest, stating that evidence suggested Foster-Smith entered the victim’s apartment, assaulted her until her death, and then concealed the body in a suitcase. The Attorney General’s Office in Colombia intends to prosecute him for aggravated femicide and tampering with evidence.
Natalia Villalba’s body was discovered in a suitcase in a bathroom at a building in Bogota. Her mother mentioned that Natalia had stopped answering her calls a few days before the incident. Investigations revealed that Natalia had checked into the apartment with a man from Texas, extending her stay before the tragic event occurred.
Authorities in Bogota acknowledged the assistance of Dorset Police in locating and apprehending Foster-Smith. He had left Colombia via a border crossing into Ecuador, claiming he was returning to the UK due to death threats received from local criminals.
Foster-Smith had asserted his innocence, claiming to have an alibi of watching a football match at a bar during the time of the crime. He alleged that he left Colombia due to safety concerns and had no involvement in the murder.
