A British doctor wanted by police over the murder of a model found inside a suitcase in a Colombian apartment has been arrested.
The body of Natalia Villalba Angarita, a 36-year-old model from Cúcuta, in northern Colombia, was found by cleaning staff who entered the property in the capital, Bogotá, after the rental period ended on June 22.
They discovered the victim’s remains concealed inside a grey suitcase in the bathroom where the shower was still running.
Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, from Poole, Dorset, spoke out earlier this week to protest his innocence, claiming he had been watching England playing against Croatia at the time of the killing.
But police have now arrested the British national over the murder, having fled to Quito in neighbouring Ecuador. He was taken into custody at Quito International Airport.
Foster-Smith, who has been convicted previously of stalking, was placed into handcuffs yesterday afternoon local time.
One well-placed source told Colombian press: ‘He was trying to buy a ticket to Europe and was apparently located via the telephone calls he made from there.’
Aggravated femicide, the charge Foster-Smith is likely to face, carries a prison sentence in Colombia of between 40 and 50 years.
The body of Natalia Villalba Angarita (pictured), a model from Cúcuta, in northern Colombia, was found by cleaning staff inside a suitcase
Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, from Poole, Dorset, has been arrested over the murder of the model. He has previous convictions for stalking in the UK
Foster-Smith seen in Quito, Ecuador, where he has been arrested for the murder of Natalia
Local reports overnight said the convicted stalker had been released on licence from a UK prison in January this year after serving time behind bars for his second offence.
An Interpol source claimed UK authorities had issued no arrest warrant despite him breaching orders to maintain regular police contact as part of his jail release conditions, saying: ‘There was no active arrest warrant for him at that time.
‘Therefore there were no restrictions preventing him from entering Colombia.’
On Thursday, Foster-Smith contacted The Sun claiming he had nothing to do with the murder and had gone to an Irish bar that evening.
He said: ‘It wasn’t me. I was watching England.
‘After the match I went into the shopping centre, I mooched about, bought an ice cream, and came back later for the later games.
‘I didn’t leave with anyone and went to bed myself at about 11pm local time.’
The British doctor sent a photograph as evidence he was inside a bar having a drink and eating a burger while watching Harry Kane taking his ninth-minute penalty during the match.
It is understood the England match kicked off at around 3pm local time in Bogota on June 17.
Police believe the killing took place the next day, on June 18, between 11.30am and 5.30pm.
Officials are now understood to be trying to locate CCTV footage to establish which bar Foster-Smith claimed he watched the England-Croatia game from.
Bogota mayor Carlos Fernando Galan, reacting to news of the arrest overnight on X and revealing Dorset Police had assisted, said: ‘The man believed to be responsible for the murder of Natalia Villalba has been captured in Ecuador.
‘A task force made up of @fiscaliacol and the Bogotá Sectional CTI, @MigracionCol Regional Andina, @seguridadbog, @seguridadequito, Interpol of @PoliciaEcuador, Ecuador’s Migration Service, and @dorsetpolice succeeded this week in locating Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, who is believed to be responsible for the murder of Natalia Villalba on June 18.
‘Yesterday afternoon, once an arrest warrant had been issued by a judge and the Red Notice for his international arrest had been activated, the task force launched the operation to detain him.
‘It was successfully completed at Quito International Airport thanks to the efforts of Interpol Ecuador.
‘Cooperation among national and local security and justice agencies, as well as coordination among the Security Secretariats of Latin America’s capital cities, is a key factor in the fight against crime.
‘In Bogota, if you commit the crime, you pay the price.’
Laura Tami, head of a district agency in Bogota tasked with protecting women and providing institutional responses to cases of gender-based violence and femicide in the city, added: ‘That all the competent institutions act effectively in the case of Natalia Villalba Angarita is key to uncovering the truth, ensuring justice is served, and imposing strong sanctions on those responsible.’
Detectives are known to have analysed the dead woman’s computer, found inside her rented apartment, for possible fingerprints and evidence that could be relevant to the ongoing investigation.
They also claim Foster-Smith was seen on CCTV arriving at the apartment on June 17 and leaving the next day.
Footage reportedly showed him taking bedsheets to a laundry room within the building.
Foreign men Natalia was contacted by are believed to have found her details from social media sites where she had posted photos of herself taken by a professional photographer.
Foster-Smith made UK headlines in October 2020 when he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stalking his first victim.
He denied all the allegations against him when he was arrested in June that year, but later pleaded guilty.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard he stalked his ex-partner by attending the same gym at the same time despite a non-molestation order being in place and ‘made sure he was seen’ by his victim over ‘a long period.’
He also created Instagram accounts where he posted explicit images of his victim and messaged a friend after the break-up of a short new relationship threatening to get an axe and ‘f##’ the women up, adding: ”If I’m going to get banged up, let’s make it worth it.’
The friend reported the messages to police.
Following his second stalking conviction, Detective Constable Thomas Norman of Bournemouth CID, said: ‘The defendant’s behaviour has had an extremely significant impact on the victim’s life.
‘She continues to live in fear and has described these events as destroying her life.
‘It is very important to us that victims of stalking get the help and support they need – we don’t want anyone to feel scared, distressed or threatened.
‘We take stalking seriously and are committed to ensuring offenders such as Foster-Smith are held accountable for their behaviour.’
Speaking to respected Colombian newspaper El Tiempo earlier this week Natalia’s mum said: ‘My daughter had been living in Bogota for 17 years.
‘We spoke all the time but from last Thursday onwards she didn’t reply. She wasn’t taking my calls or receiving my messages.’
Police believe Natalia was killed on June 18, between 11.30am and 5.30pm
The victim’s remains were concealed inside a grey suitcase in the bathroom where the shower was found to be running
The door of the apartment where Natalia Villalba Angarita was found
Revealing Natalia had been paying weekly for the apartment where she was found dead – but was planning to move on to a different place shortly – Claudia added: ‘Her computer was in her room, but her phone is still missing.
‘Natalia told me she had a company and worked doing that. I don’t know what it was exactly and I’m waiting to talk to one of her best friends so she gives me more information about what she was doing work-wise.
‘We are at the Prosecutor’s Office waiting for them to tell us something about the investigation.
‘They still have not released the body to us, and we will carry out the identification in the coming days.
‘All we want is for the truth to come out.’
Carlos Fernandez Galan spoke on Tuesday to confirm a murder investigation was underway.
He said: ‘On Monday Natalia Villalba’s body was found in an apartment in northern Bogota. Initial evidence points to a murder.
‘First of all, I want to express all my solidarity to her family. I deeply regret what happened.
‘From the very first moment yesterday, when the case became known, we have supported the technical investigation team of the prosecutor’s office, so that what happened is clarified as soon as possible and the application of the law is guaranteed.’
During an inspection of the apartment where Natalia was found dead, two passports belonging to the dead woman were found.
One had expired and the other, which enabled police to identify the victim, was stamped inside and indicated recent visits to Spain.
The fact the shower had been left on in the room is being linked to a possible attempt to hinder the work of pathologists because of running water’s effects on the skin and the fact it can conceal bruising.
Online reviews on travel sites like Booking.com for the Morph Chico building says it has free wifi, a terrace, a restaurant and a bar. Apartments range from deluxe studios to a loft with a balcony and an executive suite.
A deluxe studio for two people, which comes with a large bed and sofa bed, costs around £90 for a one-night stay.
A Colombian foundation assisting the families of femicide victims called Justicia Para Todos, which in English translates as Justice For All, said before Foster-Smith was arrested: ‘We reject the violent death of Natalia Villalba, found on June 22 in an apartment in northern Bogota.
‘Behind every statistic there is a life, a story, and a family that today demands answers.
‘We call on the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation to conduct a thorough, prompt investigation with a gender perspective.’
