Natalia Villalba Angarita, a 36-year-old Colombian model and influencer, was found dead on June 22, stuffed inside a grey suitcase hidden in the bathroom of a luxury short-term rental apartment in Bogotá, Colombia — with the shower still running when she was discovered.
Villalba had been staying at a rental unit in the upscale El Chicó district on the northern side of Bogotá since June 3. She had initially booked the unit for just a few days before extending her stay, with a scheduled checkout date of June 21. When she failed to leave, cleaning staff entered the seventh-floor unit the following day and made the grim discovery.
British Suspect Arrested in Ecuador
Four days after the body was found, Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office announced the arrest of Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, a 46-year-old British man, on suspicion of aggravated femicide and tampering with evidence. He was taken into custody on June 26 at Quito International Airport in Ecuador, the result of a coordinated task force involving authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, and the United Kingdom.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, evidence gathered by Colombia’s Technical Investigation Corps — known as the CTI — indicated that Foster-Smith entered the apartment while Villalba was alone, physically assaulted her, placed her body into the suitcase, and then manipulated the crime scene before fleeing. Bogotá Mayor Carlos F. Galán celebrated the arrest in a statement, writing, “In Bogotá, he who does the deed pays the price.”
Hours before he was taken into custody, Foster-Smith had denied any involvement, telling The Sun, “It wasn’t me” — claiming he was watching the England vs. Croatia World Cup match on June 17. He added that after the game he wandered through a shopping center, bought an ice cream, and returned later for additional matches.
Two Foreign Men Linked to the Apartment
Investigators quickly zeroed in on two foreign nationals with ties to the rental property. The apartment had originally been booked from June 3 to 7 by an American citizen from Texas, who was present during those early days of Villalba’s stay. She subsequently extended her booking through June 21.
Foster-Smith is believed to have entered the apartment on June 17 and departed just one day later. Security camera footage from the complex captured him carrying bed linen to a laundry area — images that raised immediate suspicion and helped investigators identify specific locations to search for DNA, fiber, and trace evidence. Two of Villalba’s passports were also recovered at the scene: one expired and one valid, the latter bearing stamps from recent travel to Spain.
Foster-Smith’s past drew additional scrutiny. He had previously served more than two years in jail for stalking offenses in 2023, and following his release, a stalking prevention order was issued against him in January — requiring him to stay away from his victims and to maintain regular contact with police, including notifying them of his addresses and vehicles.
A Case That Echoes a Notorious Femicide
The murder has drawn immediate comparisons to the 2023 killing of DJ Valentina Trespalacios, whose body was likewise discovered inside a suitcase in Colombia. That case ended in June 2024 when a Colombian court convicted US citizen John Nelson Poulos of aggravated femicide along with concealment and alteration of evidence. Poulos was sentenced to 42 years and eight months in prison.
The parallels have amplified public outrage in Colombia, where gender-based violence remains a serious and worsening crisis. The country recorded 886 femicides in 2024, marking a historic seven-year high. Villalba, originally from Cucuta, was a model with a visible social media presence, and her death prompted widespread grief and anger across the platforms where she had built her following.
Investigation Ongoing
The CTI continues to analyze surveillance video, access records for the building, and the whereabouts of both foreign nationals who had connections to the rental on Calle 95. Forensic specialists are working to establish the precise cause and time of death through autopsy results alongside ongoing fingerprint and trace evidence analysis. The US citizen from Texas, who was present at the property during the first days of Villalba’s stay, has not been named as a suspect but remains a person of interest as the investigation continues.
Foster-Smith is currently in custody and awaiting formal proceedings. Colombian authorities have not confirmed a motive, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Villalba’s death continues across three countries.
Sources: AOL News | Yahoo News | El Mundo America | The Sun
