Florida man charged with killing estranged wife in Spain is dead from apparent suicide, lawyer says

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (AP) — A Florida businessman charged with kidnapping and sidesplitting his estranged woman successful Spain was recovered dormant from evident termination Monday greeting successful a South Florida national prison, his defence lawyer said.

David Knezevich, 37, was awaiting proceedings astatine the Federal Detention Center successful Miami. He was charged past twelvemonth with kidnapping and sidesplitting 40-year-old Ana Hedao Knezevich, who went missing successful a lawsuit that has drawn planetary media attention.

Knezevich’s attorney, Jayne Weintraub, said she learned that helium was recovered dormant successful his compartment but didn’t connection immoderate details astir however helium died.

“The defence squad is devastated to larn of this news,” Weintraub said. “We sincerely anticipation that an due and punctual probe volition beryllium conducted.”

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Knezevich was recovered unresponsive successful his compartment soon aft 8 a.m. Responding employees initiated life-saving measures earlier exigency aesculapian services arrived and took over, officials said. EMS unit yet pronounced Knezevich dead. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service were notified.

Ana Knezevich disappeared from her Madrid flat successful February 2024, 5 weeks aft she had moved there. Her assemblage inactive hasn’t been found.

A antheral successful a motorcycle helmet was seen sneaking into her flat gathering and disabling a information camera, and was aboriginal seen wheeling retired a suitcase.

Prosecutors accidental they person beardown grounds Knezevich was the antheral successful the helmet. They accidental helium flew to Turkey from Miami six days earlier Ana’s disappearance, past instantly traveled to his autochthonal Serbia, wherever helium rented a car. Security video captured Knezevich astatine a Madrid hardware store the aforesaid time his woman disappeared, and his rental car had been driven 4,800 miles (7,700 kilometers) erstwhile it was returned 5 weeks later, officials said.

The mates was successful the mediate of a contentious divorcement portion warring implicit millions of dollars successful properties, according to prosecutors. They had been joined for 13 years.

Weintraub has said the divided was amicable and the fiscal arrangements were being worked out.

For much CNN quality and newsletters make an relationship astatine CNN.com