Court papers reveal that the slaying of three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper in their expensive home in Northwest Washington is the work of more than one person. This is based not only on the brutality of the killings but also on the fact that they were held captive for more than 19 hours before being murdered and setting fire to their home. The murderers asked for a $ 40,000 ransom, which they got before leaving the house.
On Thursday, the 14th of May 2015, the multimillion-house on 3200 block of Woodland Drive NW, belonging to the Savapoulos family was set on fire. The fire department arrived not long after that, at about 1.15 p.m. and tried to rescue the victims inside, but they were already dead. Savvas Savapoulos, aged 46, Amy Savapoulos, his 47-year-old wife, their 10-year-old son Philip Savapoulos and a 57-year-old maid Veralicia Figueroa were pulled out of the house but nothing could be done for them. The police discovered very soon afterwards that the people had been killed before fire was set to their house. The murders left not only their close family and friends but also people from other parts of the country in a state of disbelief, given the fact that the news has been trending ever since.
After collecting multiple evidence from the house, small things such as a fingerprint on a bottle or DNA on a pizza crust pointed to the identity of a man who was arrested in Northeast Washington on Thursday, the 21st of May, after a two-day chase. 34-year-old Daron Dylon Wint was charged with first degree murder. Other people – two men and three women that were with him were taken into custody on the night of the arrest. Robert Fernandez, commander of the U.S. Marshal Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, who made the arrest, said that Wint’s truck contained a large sum of money, even if it remains uncertain whether the cash is connected to the crimes.
After his first appearance in D.C. Superior Court, other details of the case came to light. Authorities say that such killings, which were most likely premeditated, probably “required the presence and assistance of more than one person.”
Wint is currently charged only with the murder of Savvas Savapoulos. However, other possible charges include the deaths of the other two members of his family — Amy and Philip and of the housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa.
It seems that Daron Wint was no stranger to the president of American Iron Works, Savvas Savapolos, as he worked there as a welder in the past. However, it is not clear yet if the two had any conflicts.
Wint’s lawyer, Natalie Lawson, who works for the Public Defender Service, believes her client is innocent and that there is no real evidence that could connect him to the four people’s deaths. She also added that the whole case against him was based on speculation and guesswork.”
Nevertheless, Magistrate Judge Errol R. Arthur said that Wint will be held until the next hearing, which is scheduled on June 23 because the evidence, be it circumstantial, all points to him.
This arrest offers some sort of relief, not only to the members of the Savapoulos family, but also to the residents of the area, who were left shaken and scared after the news. The police have tried to give them some comforting update, saying that it is quite obvious that the murders were not random.
Image Source: Ibtimes
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