A disgraced British doctor accused of murdering a Colombian model was arrested at an Ecuadorian airport while attempting to flee to the Netherlands using what authorities believe was a fake passport.

Matthew Foster-Smith, 46, from Poole, Dorset, was detained at Quito International Airport in Ecuador after a five-day manhunt. He was subsequently flown back to Colombia overnight and escorted through Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport with his head bowed.

The Alleged Crime

Foster-Smith is accused of beating Natalia Villalba Angarita, a 36-year-old model, to death inside her apartment in Bogotá’s Morph Chico building. Prosecutors claim the killing occurred during a two-hour visit to her flat. Her body was later found stuffed inside a suitcase and left under a running shower.

A cleaner discovered the body on Monday. Investigators believe the suspect used one of three heavy objects found in the apartment to carry out the attack. CCTV footage reportedly captured Foster-Smith taking bedsheets to a laundry room in the building as part of efforts to conceal the crime before fleeing.

Fake Identity and Flight Attempt

The 46-year-old was carrying a passport issued in April 2022 under the name Foster Martinson — reportedly after serving a prison sentence in the UK. Colombian authorities are investigating whether he used false identities to cover his tracks.

He was attempting to board a flight to the Netherlands when arrested.

Previous Convictions and Alibi Claim

Foster-Smith has a history of stalking. He was jailed for 18 months in 2020 at Bournemouth Crown Court after stalking an ex-partner and posting revenge porn online. After his release, he allegedly continued stalking another woman.

Hours before his arrest, he contacted The Sun claiming he could not have committed the murder because he was watching England play Croatia in a bar. However, police say the timeline of the alleged killing (between 11:30am and 5:30pm on June 18) does not align with his alibi, as the football match kicked off at 3pm.

He reportedly fled Colombia via the Rumichaca border crossing into Ecuador, claiming he had received death threats from local gangsters.

Charges

Foster-Smith is expected to face charges of aggravated femicide, which carries a prison sentence of 40 to 50 years in Colombia.

The case has shocked both the UK and Colombia, drawing significant media attention due to the suspect’s medical background and prior criminal record.