Husband accused of killing his US expat wife Ana Knezevich in Spain will only be tried for kidnapping due to lack of body – as Spanish police desperately search for remains

ANA Knezevich’s ex-husband will only be tried for kidnapping as Spanish police searches fail to find her body. 

Despite desperate searches, the Policia Nacional has failed to find the body of Ana Maria Henao Knezevich, 40. 

The Colombian-American woman went missing from her Madrid apartment in Febuarary and has not been seen since. 

READ MORE: Ana Knezevich latest: Search for body of missing US expat continues in Spain while police in Serbia examine car used by husband

She was starting over in Spain following a tumultuous divorce from Serbian national, David Knezevich. 

Following an FBI investigation, David will be tried for kidnapping in Miami in a hearing delayed until October 21. 

It is expected to last at least two weeks. 

Although David could be tried for murder, US law prohibits trying a defendant for the same crime twice (double jeopardy), meaning prosecutors are likely holding back in case remains are found. 

The Florida businessman pleaded not guilty on June 10 but has not been granted bail due to the significant ‘flight risk’. 

David’s lawyer, Kenneth Padowitz, maintains his client has ‘never been to Spain and has nothing to do with’ his wife’s disappearance. 

Read more: Ana Knezevich latest: Husband of missing US expat pleads not guilty to her kidnapping in Spain – after CCTV showed him buying duct tape in Madrid hardware store

However, various photos released by police seem to show David in Madrid buying duct tape and spray paint before covering a CCTV camera in Ana’s building shortly before she went missing. 

A car David hired in Serbia was also spotted on Madrid motorways at the time of the alleged crime. 

He was arrested upon arriving in Miami airport in May and has been in a Florida prison ever since.

It is believed police are waiting for lab forensic results from Knezevich’s Serbia home and the hire car, which have not been handed over by Serbian authorities, though Spanish police travelled to Spain to collect evidence. 

According to reports, it is thought David strangled Ana in her Salamanca area apartment, putting her body in the boot of his car and driving it through Spain, Italy, Croatia, France and Slovenia until he reached his Serbian property. 

The body has not been found in Spain and authorities are asking for collaboration with other countries. 

Spanish authorities used drones, cadaver dogs, helicopters and more in their search, which stretched from Soria to Zaragoza.