John McAfee, the British-American computer programmer and businessman, fled Belize in 2012. He was a person of interest in the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull, and fled to Guatemala, where he sought political asylum.
McAfee denied any involvement in the murder and said he went into hiding so he could stay close to his home in Belize and conduct his own investigation into Faull's death. He claimed he had little faith that the police would find the murderer.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date | 11 November 2012 |
Reason | Wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull |
Destination | Guatemala |
What You'll Learn
- John McAfee's neighbour, Gregory Faull, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head
- McAfee was a person of interest in Faull's murder
- McAfee fled Belize for Guatemala, seeking political asylum
- He disguised himself by dying his hair and beard, and sticking chewed gum to his upper gums to fatten his face
- McAfee was arrested in Guatemala for entering the country illegally
John McAfee's neighbour, Gregory Faull, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head
Faull's death came after he complained about McAfee's dogs, with McAfee claiming that he had poisoned them. Faull's autopsy confirmed his cause of death as "brain damage due to injuries sustained from a gunshot wound to the head".
There were no signs of forced entry, and officials ruled out robbery as a motive for the murder. McAfee and Faull had a history of conflict, and McAfee soon became a person of interest in the crime. However, he was nowhere to be found, having fled to Guatemala.
McAfee later claimed that he fled Belize because he believed he would be tortured or murdered for being a suspect in the case. Despite being ordered to pay $25 million in a wrongful death claim, McAfee was never charged with any crime in connection with Faull's death.
Faull's family believed that McAfee had hired someone to kill Faull and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him in the United States. A judge ruled in their favour, ordering McAfee to pay over $25 million in damages, compensation, and funeral costs. However, McAfee did not comply with the ruling.
Faull's case remains officially unsolved.
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McAfee was a person of interest in Faull's murder
John McAfee was a person of interest in the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull, in Belize in 2012. McAfee went into hiding, claiming that the Belizean authorities intended to kill him. He told Wired:
> I thought maybe they were coming for me. They mistook him for me. They got the wrong house. He's dead. They killed him. It spooked me out.
McAfee's dogs were poisoned the day before Faull's death, and Faull had previously filed a complaint about McAfee's dogs, which he described as "vicious". Faull also complained about the armed guards on McAfee's property, who he said were aggressive and shone spotlights into people's eyes at night.
McAfee was never arrested or charged in connection with Faull's death, and he denied any involvement. He was, however, arrested in Guatemala for illegally entering the country, and was deported to the US.
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McAfee fled Belize for Guatemala, seeking political asylum
John McAfee, the founder of anti-virus software McAfee, fled Belize for Guatemala, seeking political asylum in 2012. He was on the run in Belize following a police investigation into the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull. Belize officials said the software pioneer was a "person of interest" in the death of Faull, who was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head.
McAfee denied any involvement in the businessman's death and said he went into hiding so he could stay close to his Belize home and conduct his own investigation into Faull's death. He also said he had little faith that the island's police would find the murderer. He told reporters: "Belize does not have a good track record of providing safety when they ask to question you. I felt much more secure crossing the border."
McAfee hired a high-profile Guatemalan lawyer and said he would petition the Guatemalan government to let him stay in the country. He added that he could now speak freely and openly.
The multi-millionaire fugitive checked into the five-star Villa Real hotel in Guatemala City after sneaking out of Belize. He changed his appearance by dying his hair and beard, sticking chewed bubble gum to his upper gums to fatten his face, and staining his teeth.
McAfee had led an eccentric life since he sold his stake in the anti-virus software company that bears his name in the early 1990s. He moved to Belize around 2009, seeking lower taxes, and lived in semi-seclusion on a heavily guarded compound until he fled in 2012.
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He disguised himself by dying his hair and beard, and sticking chewed gum to his upper gums to fatten his face
John McAfee's disguise was a simple yet effective one. He dyed his hair and beard, and he stuck chewed gum to his upper gums to change the shape of his face. This allowed him to alter his appearance and evade the authorities who were pursuing him for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbour in Belize.
McAfee's ingenuity in creating a disguise demonstrates his resourcefulness and quick thinking in a high-stakes situation. With his new look, he was able to avoid detection and flee the country, ultimately making his way back to the United States.
McAfee's story is a fascinating one, full of twists and turns, and his disguise was just one of the many tactics he employed to stay one step ahead. His ability to adapt and think on his feet was key to his successful escape.
While on the run, McAfee also utilised other methods to avoid capture. He buried himself in the sand with a cardboard box over his head when the police came to question him, demonstrating his creativity and determination to avoid capture.
The full story of McAfee's time in Belize and his subsequent escape is a complex and intriguing tale that has captivated many. His life has been chronicled in documentaries and articles, with his disguise being just one of the many intriguing aspects of his story.
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McAfee was arrested in Guatemala for entering the country illegally
John McAfee was arrested in Guatemala on 5 December 2012 for entering the country illegally. He was seeking political asylum in the country after fleeing Belize, where he was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull.
McAfee had been on the run for three weeks, during which he regularly blogged and spoke to journalists about his treatment at the hands of the Belizean police, who he claimed had harassed him. He also maintained his innocence in the murder case.
After his arrest, McAfee was taken to a detention centre, where he suffered health issues, including high blood pressure and anxiety attacks. He was hospitalised and later released and deported to the US.
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Frequently asked questions
John McAfee fled Belize because he was a "person of interest" in the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull.
Gregory Faull was found dead with a single gunshot to the head on 11 November 2012.
The two had a long-running row about McAfee's guard dogs.
McAfee sought political asylum in Guatemala. He checked into a five-star hotel in Guatemala City and hired a high-profile Guatemalan lawyer.
McAfee was arrested in Spain in 2020 on charges of tax evasion. He was found dead in his prison cell in 2021, with authorities ruling his death a suicide.