What's behind the arrest of Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith?

Last updated: 28 June 2026

Readers in Britain should care because this case links a serious homicide allegation in Colombia with a British man from Dorset, UK police involvement, and consular support overseas. Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith, 46, from Bournemouth, has been arrested at Quito International Airport in Ecuador after Colombian prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice. He is alleged to have caused the death of Natalia Villalba, 36, in an apartment in Bogotá on 18 June.

Setting the Scene

The case began in Bogotá, Colombia, where the body of Natalia Villalba was found inside a suitcase in an apartment. Colombian authorities say Foster-Smith is suspected of beating Villalba to death, placing her body in the suitcase, trying to conceal what happened, and leaving the scene.

Several reports place the apartment in the Chicó or Chapinero area of Bogotá, with further details saying the remains were found in a rented flat. The Telegraph reported that the suitcase was discovered underneath a running shower, a detail that matters because prosecutors have linked the alleged conduct to attempts to conceal or alter evidence.

The British angle is not incidental. Foster-Smith is from Bournemouth, Dorset, and Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said Dorset Police assisted in the operation to locate him. For UK readers, the case also raises questions about what happens when a British national is detained abroad in connection with a serious allegation.

Here's What Happened

Local authorities say Villalba died on 18 June in an apartment in Bogotá. Prosecutors in Colombia then obtained an arrest warrant, and an Interpol Red Notice was issued, asking police forces internationally to help locate and arrest Foster-Smith.

Foster-Smith was held at Quito International Airport in Ecuador. The Independent and The Guardian both reported that he had contacted The Sun before his arrest and claimed he was watching an England football match at the time of the alleged crime. The Guardian reported that England’s opening World Cup match took place in Dallas, Texas, on 17 June.

The Telegraph reported that CCTV from the apartment building captured Foster-Smith arriving at the flat on 17 June and leaving the next day. It also reported that he was filmed taking bedsheets to be washed in a laundry room inside the building. When police searched the apartment, they found an American and a British passport, which the report says helped identify him as a suspect.

The case then crossed borders. Reports say Foster-Smith left Colombia and entered Ecuador, where he was detained at the airport. Metro reported that Colombian prosecutors said the case would proceed towards bringing the foreign national before authorities in Colombia for aggravated femicide and concealment, alteration, or destruction of material evidence.

Reactions & Responses

The official response has come from both Colombia and the UK. Bogotá’s mayor said Dorset Police had assisted with the operation, tying local Colombian authorities, international police channels and a British force into one search effort.

This painful case will not go unpunished

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed consular involvement after the arrest. Its role is not to decide guilt or innocence, but to support British nationals detained overseas and stay in contact with local authorities.

We are supporting a British man who has been detained in Ecuador and are in touch with the local authorities.

Villalba’s mother, Claudia Villalba, also gave a human shape to the case. The Telegraph reported that she described her daughter as a hard-working and determined woman, while Metro reported her saying the family wanted the truth to come out.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond the arrest, this case is being scrutinised because of Foster-Smith’s previous criminal history in Britain. The BBC reported that he had been jailed for two years and two months for stalking offences committed in 2023, and that he faced indefinite restrictions after release under a stalking prevention order issued in January by Poole Magistrates’ Court.

Those restrictions required him to keep in regular contact with police, notify them of his address and vehicle details, avoid contact with victims, and follow limits on electronic communication devices. The Telegraph added that Dorset Police had previously warned people not to approach Foster-Smith after he was charged with stalking in September 2024 and skipped bail before being arrested in London.

Interpol Red Notice

A request circulated through Interpol asking police forces around the world to locate and provisionally arrest a person wanted by a member country.

Stalking prevention order

A court order used in England and Wales to restrict someone’s conduct when police believe there is a stalking risk.

Aggravated femicide

A serious homicide charge referenced by Colombian prosecutors in relation to the alleged killing of a woman.

For British readers, the wider issue is how domestic criminal restrictions interact with international travel once a person is abroad. The sources confirm UK police assistance in locating Foster-Smith, but they do not disclose the full timeline of how he travelled from the UK to Colombia or what monitoring was in place before the alleged killing.

The Road Ahead

The confirmed next stage is legal, not political. Colombian authorities have said they intend to ensure Foster-Smith is placed at their disposal and prosecuted in Colombia.

Dorset Police has been approached for comment by several outlets. The FCDO says it is supporting Foster-Smith and remains in touch with local authorities.