John McAfee (67), the fugitive software tycoon wanted for questioning in Belize over the murder of his American neighbour, arrived in Miami on Wednesday night.
Fellow passengers aboard his flight from Guatemala City, where Mr McAfee was released this morning after a week of detainment, said they were prevented from disembarking while he was taken away. Airport spokesman Greg Chin said that federal agents greeted Mr McAfee at the door of the plane and helped him through immigration and customs formalities.
A short time later, a posting on Mr McAfee’s website announced he was at a hotel in Miami’s upscale South Beach neighbourhood.
“Person of interest”
Investigators in Belize want to talk to Mr McAfee as “a person of interest” in the murder last month of Florida builder Gregory Faull, his neighbour on the island of Ambergris Caye. Mr Faull, who had quarrelled with Mr McAfee over his “vicious dogs”, was found shot in the head, although Mr McAfee has strongly denied any involvement in blog posts during a month on the run.
Guatemalan authorities arrested him and his girlfriend, Samantha Vanegas (20), at a hotel in the capital city last week and he spent a week in a detention centre before a judge ruled he was in the country illegally and ordered his immediate deportation.
Yesterday the family of Mr Faull said they were shocked and frustrated over the fact that Mr McAfee could be free in Miami while the Belize authorities wanted to question him. “I’m shocked by this . . . he’s running around footloose and fancy free in Miami. How in the world can that be?” asked William Keeney, the stepfather of Mr Faull.
Belize police have acknowledged that their country’s extradition treaty with the US extended only to suspected criminals, a designation that did not apply to Mr McAfee.
– (Guardian service/Reuters)