British man arrested in Ecuador after model's body found in suitcase in Colombia
Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, a 46-year-old from Bournemouth with prior stalking convictions, is alleged to have killed 36-year-old Natalia Villalba in Bogotá and concealed her body in a suitcase before fleeing to Ecuador
Quick Look
- A British man, Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, was arrested in Ecuador after the body of Colombian model Natalia Villalba was discovered inside a suitcase in Bogotá.
- Foster-Smith, who has prior stalking convictions, claimed he was watching an England World Cup match at the time of the alleged murder on June 18.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith has a history of stalking convictions, including an 18-month prison sentence in 2020 for stalking his partner and threatening violence, and a subsequent 2025 sentence for stalking another woman. He was publicly warned by Dorset Police in September 2024 and skipped bail before being tracked to London.
A British man has been arrested in Ecuador after the body of a woman was found inside a suitcase in Colombia.
Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, 46, from Bournemouth, Dorset, is alleged to have caused the death of 36-year-old Natalia Villalba in an apartment in the Chicó neighbourhood of Bogotá on 18 June, local authorities said.
Foster-Smith reportedly phoned The Sun newspaper a day before his arrest and claimed he had been watching an England World Cup match on television at the time of the incident. "I was watching England versus Croatia on a big screen in an Irish bar so it wasn't me," the 46-year-old told the newspaper. "After the match I went into the shopping centre, I mooched about, bought an ice-cream, and came back later for the later games."
England's opening World Cup match took place in Dallas, Texas on 17 June.
The Sun reported that the suspect made a second call to the newspaper on Friday prior to his arrest. A source told the newspaper he had been located via the phone calls he had made.
A post on the official X account of Colombia's attorney general's office stated Foster-Smith was accused of beating Villalba to death before placing her body in a suitcase, trying to conceal what happened, and fleeing the scene.
Dorset Police are said to have assisted with locating him before he was held at Quito International Airport in Ecuador's capital. An arrest warrant had been obtained by prosecutors in Colombia and an Interpol Red Notice issued, local authorities said.
Carlos Fernando Galán, Bogotá's mayor, said Dorset Police had assisted with the operation. "This painful case will not go unpunished," he said.
A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting a British man who has been detained in Ecuador and are in touch with the local authorities."
Dorset Police were approached for comment on Sunday.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Foster-Smith will be extradited to Colombia to face murder charges as requested by Colombian prosecutors
Very likely · Within days
Dorset Police will release additional details about Foster-Smith's prior stalking convictions and bail-skipping incident
Likely · Within days
The UK Foreign Office will issue further updates on the detained British citizen's legal status and support measures
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific evidence led investigators to conclude Foster-Smith was the murderer?
- How did Foster-Smith manage to flee Colombia before authorities discovered the body?
- Will Foster-Smith be extradited to Colombia or face charges in Ecuador or the UK?
- What was the exact relationship between Foster-Smith and Natalia Villalba?
