A Florida businessman accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife in Spain has died by apparent suicide while awaiting trial in a federal detention center, according to his attorney.
David Knezevich, 37, was found unresponsive in his cell Monday morning at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
Emergency services attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed.
His defense attorney, Jayne Weintraub, expressed shock over the news. “The defense team is devastated to learn of this news,” she said in a statement.
“We sincerely hope that an appropriate and prompt investigation will be conducted.”
Knezevich had been charged with the kidnapping and presumed murder of 40-year-old Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, his estranged wife who vanished from her Madrid apartment in February 2024 — just five weeks after relocating to Spain. Her body has never been found.
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The case had garnered international attention due to its chilling details. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a man in a motorcycle helmet disabling the security camera in Ana’s building and later wheeling out a suitcase.
Authorities believe that man was David Knezevich.
Prosecutors allege Knezevich flew from Miami to Turkey six days before Ana disappeared, then traveled to his native Serbia.
He allegedly drove a rental car to Spain and was seen on camera at a Madrid hardware store the day of the disappearance. The vehicle logged more than 4,800 miles before being returned five weeks later.
The couple was in the middle of a contentious divorce after 13 years of marriage, reportedly battling over several million dollars’ worth of property.
Prosecutors described the split as acrimonious, but Knezevich’s attorney previously said the divorce was amicable and the financial matters were being resolved.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service have been notified and are expected to assist in the ongoing investigation into Knezevich’s death.
