Guatemala denies asylum for McAfee
The Guatemalan government declines to offer the millionaire fugitive a safe haven. And then McAfee was rushed to the hospital after having two heart attacks, according to reports.
The Guatemalan government has denied the asylum request of tech entrepreneur-turned fugitive John McAfee, the Associated Press reported today, which means police in Belize expect the eccentric millionaire to be flown back to Belize soon.
Update, 12:30 p.m. PT: ABC News is reporting that McAfee, who complained about chest pains earlier, had a possible heart attack while at the detention center. Two ambulances were seen outside the center, and medics are attending to him after he was reportedly found unresponsive on the floor of his cell.
Update, 1:45 p.m. PT: McAfee's lawyer tells Reuters that McAfee had "two mild heart attacks" earlier in the day. He's been rushed to a hospital, according to the report. McAfee's blog posted an update about him being taken to the hospital, but had no information beyond what news outlets reported.
Police have been searching for McAfee -- who recently crossed the border into Guatemala in hopes of seeking asylum -- in connection to a murder. The 67-year-old founder of the company that bears his name has been on the run since November 12, when his neighbor Gregory Faull, a contractor and restaurant owner, was discovered with a bullet in his head.
According to the Associate Press, Belize police don't have a warrant for McAfee's arrest, so they may not be able to detain him for long in Belize.
Guatemalan authorities didn't say why McAfee's request was denied, but McAfee has asked his supporters to email and tweet Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina to plea for McAfee to stay in Guatemala.
"Please email the President of Guatemala and beg him to allow the court system to proceed, to determine my status in Guatemala, and please support the political asylum that I am asking for," the blog post reads. "Please PLEASE be very POLITE in your communications, and I thank you."
The Associated Press also reported that McAfee told the wire service that he suffered chest pain in the night but he didn't want to go to the hospital because he prefers using Chinese herbal medicine.
Guatemalan police arrested McAfee for crossing the border illegally, shortly after he announced he would be holding a press conference. McAfee has been chronicling his journey -- and his detention -- through his blog.