The gruesome murder of Colombian influencer and model Natalia Villalba is being widely discussed online. According to the latest reports, a former British doctor who was accused of killing her has now been arrested in Ecuador after an international manhunt.
His name is Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, who was taken into custody at Quito International Airport. Authorities alleged he was attempting to leave the country following Villalba’s death in Bogotá.
Per Colombian prosecutors, the 36-year-old influencer was staying at a luxury short-term rental apartment in the Colombian capital when she was attacked and killed on June 18, 2026.For four days, her body remained there until cleaning staff arrived after her stay was over. What’s even more disturbing is that Natalia Villalba’s dead body was stuffed inside a suitcase and placed under a running shower.
Investigators believe that someone deliberately tampered with the crime scene after killing the woman. This would make it harder for police to determine exactly what happened or to identify the person responsible.
And now, Foster-Smith has been arrested, but he hasn’t been proved guilty yet. Additionally, he mentioned watching the World Cup at the time of the murder and claims to be innocent.
Keep reading about this startling case below.
How was Natalia Villalba found dead in her Bogotá apartment?
Natalia Villalba was 36 and worked as a Colombian model and social media influencer originally from Cúcuta. As explained earlier, she was staying at a luxurious place in Bogotá’s upscale El Chicó neighborhood since June 2026.
Reports suggest that Villalba was in contact with her family like usual but the last day she spoke to her mother was June 18. Since that day, there were no calls or messages from the late model and her family was concerned.
And then, this case took a tragic turn when a cleaning staff member entered Villalba’s apartment after her stay ended. The staff was cleaning the place for the next occupants and reportedly discovered Natalia Villalba’s body inside a suitcase in the bathroom.
Investigators claim that the suitcase was under a running shower and it’s also said that the model was physically assaulted before her death. Not only this, but there are also claims that the crime scene had been deliberately manipulated in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence.
According to Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, investigators believe Villalba was alone in the apartment when she was attacked. Prosecutors allege that the suspect later concealed her body inside the suitcase before leaving the property.
Who is Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith and what are the allegations against him?
Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith is a 46-year-old British national who used to be a doctor once. Following Natalia Villalba’s death, an international investigation began and Foster-Smith was arrested at Quito International Airport in Ecuador.
It’s believed that the man entered Villalba’s apartment on June 18 and physically assaulted her, leading to her death. Prosecutors further claim that he attempted to conceal the crime by placing her body inside a suitcase and tampering with the scene before leaving the apartment.
Investigators are also looking into the security footage from the apartment building, which reportedly shows Foster-Smith carrying bedsheets to a laundry room around the time of the alleged crime. But before he was arrested, he said:
“I was watching England versus Croatia [in the World Cup] on a big screen in an Irish bar, so it wasn’t me. After the match I went into the shopping center, I mooched about, bought an ice cream and came back later for the later games”
Notably, the former doctor was previously also convicted for stalking in the UK. He received prison sentences in 2020 and 2023. But despite all the charges and allegations, Foster-Smith remains presumed innocent in Natalia Villalba’s case unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Edited by Alisha Khan