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McAfee founder wanted for questioning in Belize murder investigation (update)

McAfee founder wanted for questioning in Belize murder investigation (update)

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John McAfee
John McAfee

John McAfee, founder of computer security firm McAfee, Inc., is reportedly wanted for questioning in connection with a murder in Belize. The local San Pedro Sun is reporting that the 67-year-old McAfee, who has lived in the country for the past several years, is wanted because authorities believe he "may be able to assist them in their investigation" of the death of Gregory Faull. Local authorities discovered the victim Sunday morning. While an official police statement makes no specific mention of McAfee by name, it does note that "Police have not established a motive so far but are following several leads." Police visited McAfee's residence to question him in connection with the crime, but the entrepreneur was nowhere to be found.

The Sun mentions that Faull has had several disagreements with a neighbor that residents believe may have escalated. While the neighbor in question isn't named, Gizmodo reports that McAfee had been at the receiving end of several complaints by the deceased, with writer Jeff Wise tweeting that the two were indeed neighbors.

A raid turned up an assortment of weapons

It's the latest turn in what has become an increasingly strange tale for McAfee. The entrepreneur came under scrutiny earlier this year when his residence was raided by Belize's Gang Suppression Unit in connection with drug and firearm charges. McAfee was eventually released, stating that he had been unfairly targeted by a local politician to whom he had refused to donate money. According to a Gizmodo profile, the raid turned up an assortment of weapons — including eight shotguns and two pistols — but that the chemical lab discovered was for an antibacterial compound. However, the same profile also asserts that McAfee had changed directions and was interested in producing a drug to enhance the libido instead, and had become involved with criminal figures as well.

We will keep you updated with any further developments.

Update: While the police may still be searching for McAfee, the entrepreneur has apparently reached out to Wired to comment on the situation. According to a recent report, McAfee was actually present on his property when the police searched it yesterday, but evaded capture by burying himself in the sand and placing a cardboard box atop his head.

"They've been trying to get me for months."

Not only does McAfee deny any wrongdoing, but he even suggests that those that killed Faull may have been targeting him instead, and mistakenly killed his neighbor. Wired reports that McAfee is currently in hiding somewhere in Central America, but that he has no interest in speaking with authorities in order to clear his name. "Under no circumstances am I going to willingly talk to the police in this country," he told Wired writer Joshua Davis. "You can say I'm paranoid about it but they will kill me, there is no question. They've been trying to get me for months. They want to silence me. I am not well liked by the prime minister. I am just a thorn in everybody's side."