The founder of a Silicon Valley security company wanted for questioning by police in Belize has been sent back to the United States by authorities in Guatemala.
John McAfee, 67, has been under arrest in Guatemala for the past week after allegedly entering that country illegally while on the run from Belizean investigators who want to question McAfee regarding the shooting death of Gregory Faull, McAfee's neighbor on the Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye.
Since learning that he was being sought by Belizean police, McAfee has been a fugitive, telling reporters that he fears for his life if he surrenders to Belizean investigators. But the Belizean police have responded that McAfee does not currently face charges connected to the murder, and is, at this time, only a "person of interest."
[Related: John McAfee Faces Deportation To US Or Belize]
Officials in Belize tried to get McAfee deported to their own country to face questioning, but McAfee's attorneys were successful in redirecting his deportation to the U.S
"I'm happy to be going home," McAfee told reporters on Wednesday at the Guatemala City airport, according to Reuters. "I've been running through jungles and rivers and oceans and I think I need to rest for a while. And I've been in jail for seven days."
McAfee then boarded a plane bound for Miami.
McAfee is reported to have acknowledged arguing with Faull at various times, but the tech millionaire who made a fortune with the company that bears his name has denied any role in the victim's murder. He also claims that he fears for his life if he returns to Belize due to his refusal to pay $2 million in bribes to the country's ruling political party. The prime minister of Belize is quoted as describing McAfee as "bonkers" in his denial of the allegation.
McAfee had previously been charged in Belize with illegal firearms possession. Police have also searched his property on suspicion of running an illegal drug lab. While McAfee has confessed to extensive drug use in his earlier years, he claims he has not used illegal drugs in nearly 30 years.
McAfee no longer has a relationship with McAfee Security, which was sold to Intel in February of last year.
PUBLISHED DEC. 12, 2012
