Colombian authorities charge UK doctor with murder after video shows him scrubbing blood from victim's apartment

Key points

• Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, is accused of killing model Natalia Villalba, 36, on June 18 in Bogota, Colombia.
• Video footage shows Foster-Smith on all fours scrubbing the floor of the victim's seventh-floor apartment, leaving visible cleaning marks.
• Villalba's body was discovered three days later by cleaners inside a gray suitcase placed under a running shower, which accelerated decomposition.
• Foster-Smith fled Colombia on a fake British passport, prompting an Interpol red notice, before being arrested in Ecuador attempting to fly to the UK.
• He faces charges of aggravated femicide and concealing evidence, with a potential sentence of 50 years if convicted.
• Foster-Smith previously served an 18-month prison sentence in 2020 for stalking and posting revenge porn.

Background

This case follows a pattern of international crimes involving victims hidden in luggage, such as the recent Austrian case where an influencer was buried alive in a suitcase, and a Thai case where a victim was strangled and placed in a suitcase in Pattaya. Foster-Smith's prior conviction for stalking and revenge porn in 2020 provides background to his current charges.

Why it matters

The case highlights the use of digital evidence, such as surveillance video, in cross-border criminal investigations and the effectiveness of Interpol in tracking suspects who attempt to flee using fraudulent documents. It also underscores the severity of penalties for aggravated femicide in Colombia.

What to watch

Foster-Smith will face trial in Colombia, where he could be sentenced to up to 50 years in prison if found guilty. The case may also lead to further scrutiny of his prior criminal history and the circumstances of his 2020 conviction.