Computer programmer and founder of the McAfee antivirus software company, John McAfee, is wanted for murder in Belize, Gizmodo reported on Monday, citing Belize officials.
McAfee is the main suspect in the murder of American expatriate Gregory Faull, Marco Vidal, head of the national police force's Gang Suppression Unit told Gizmodo.
UPDATE: Authorities have told Reuters that they are looking for McAfee to question him in connection with the crime but that there was no warrant out for his arrest and that he is currently not a suspect. "He is a person of interest at this time," Marco Vidal, head of Belize's police Gang Suppression Unit, said to Reuters.
McAfee, meanwhile, has told Wired in an exclusive interview that he believes the police will kill him if they find him. "You can say I’m paranoid about it but they will kill me, there is no question," said McAfee, per Wired. "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."
Faull was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on Saturday night at his home in San Pedro Town, located in the southern region of Ambergris Caye island in Belize. There was no sign of forced entry, but his laptop computer and iPhone were cited as missing, according to a police report obtained by the website.
Last Wednesday, Faull filed a formal complaint against McAfee in the local mayor's office, claiming that the software mogul had been firing off guns and exhibiting "roughish behavior."
McAfee is reportedly a prime suspect for the murder of his neighbor. Spokesman Raphael Martinez told The Associated Press that other neighbors have been questioned, but McAfee has not been home.
It should be noted, however, that details about the case remain unclear.
The professional decline of McAfee, who founded McAfee Associates in the 1980s, began at least three years ago when his wealth plummeted from $100 million to $4 million, and he auctioned off property to pay his bills, according to The New York Times. Intel purchased the company in 2010 for $7.68 billion.
At the time, the Times described him as "an atypical businessman — easily bored and given to serial obsessions." He had a penchant for yoga and began investing in real estate in remote locations.
In April, McAfee's Belize compound was stormed by the GSU. A chemistry lab, $20,000 in cash and a stock of firearms were found in the house, but McAfee claimed the raid was linked to his not giving money to "the local political boss," according to Network World, a tech news website.
The Belize Reporter Newspaper interviewed McAfee a few months ago. View the video below.