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McAfee founder in hiding following murder
Thu, 15th Nov 2012
FYI, this story is more than a year old

John McAfee is in hiding after being wanted for questioning following a murder near his Belize home, with the security pioneer allegedly altering his appearance as police up their search.

The McAfee founder, one of the world's largest computer security companies, was identified as a 'person of interest' by police following a neighbour's murder near his beachside property.

Florida businessman Gregory Faull was found with an apparent gunshot wound to the head on Sunday morning, lying face down in a pool of blood.

"We're hoping to get to the bottom of it, and hopefully he [McAfee] has some information that can lead us to the conclusion of this case," said Raphael Martinez, Belize police.

But while the police have yet to establish a motive for the murder, McAfee has been maintaining contact with Wired magazine since Monday, insisting he knew nothing of the murder.

"I thought maybe they were coming for me," said the 67-year-old millionaire.

"They mistook him for me. They got the wrong house.

"He's dead. They killed him. It spooked me out."

McAfee is reported to have buried himself in sand and covered his head with a cardboard box to hide after the murder, telling the magazine:

"I have modified my appearance in a radical fashion. I'll probably look like a murderer, unfortunately."

Earlier this year McAfee told tech website Gizmondo of his belief there were several attempts to take his life since the move, employing armed guards to increase security.

"I am the only white man in Orange Walk, and I was stupid enough to build right next to the highway, where people could see that I have stuff," he said.

"So there have been, in the last year alone, 11 attempts to kidnap or kill me."

McAfee started his security company in 1989, raising over US$50m after taking the company public in 1992, before retiring to Belize nearly five years ago.