Darron Wint had help in quadruple D.C. homicide: authorities

A man charged in the murders of a Northwest D.C. family and their housekeeper is not believed to have acted alone, according to court documents unsealed Friday.

An affidavit for the arrest of Darron Dellon Dennis Wint states that investigators believe that all four victims were “held captive by Mr. Wint and others” at the family’s home until $40,000 in cash was delivered to the home.

Mr. Wint, who police previously referred to as Daron Dylon Wint, was arrested late Thursday while traveling from College Park to the District. He made his first court appearance Friday, wearing a white jumpsuit, and was ordered to be held in jail pending a June 23 hearing.

Four others, two men and two women, were also apprehended when members of the Capital Area Fugitive Task Force stopped two vehicles traveling together. At least $10,000 in money orders and a large stack of $100 bills were found inside the vehicles. None of the four have been criminally charged, either in connection with the quadruple homicide or in aiding Mr. Wint in escape, and have all been released from custody, according to prosecutors.

Police believe Mr. Wint had been on the run, traveling to New York and back, in the time since the May 14 homicides.

Mr. Wint is charged with first-degree murder in the killings of Savvas Savopoulos; his wife, Amy; their 10-year-old son, Philip; and their housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa. Their bodies were found inside the Savopoulos family’s home after firefighters responded to reports of a blaze at the multi-million dollar house.

The police affidavit released Friday notes that the body of the 10-year-old boy was found on a severely charred mattress in one of the bedrooms. It lists his cause of death as from both thermal and sharp force injuries, meaning that stab wounds and burns led to his death.

The three adult victims were found in a separate bedroom and their cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries.

The arrest warrant affidavit confirms previously reported information, including that Mr. Wint was tied to the scene when police tested a pizza crust left at the scene and recovered his DNA. It also states that an assistant of Mr. Savopoulos was in contact with him by phone through the afternoon of May 14 and that he was asked to drop $40,000 in cash inside the garage of the home that morning. The fire was reported just hours later.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the District Vincent Cohen said Friday that additional charges could be filed, but he declined to elaborate.

Officials have not commented on the motive in the killings, however police officials have said the crime appeared targeted. Mr. Wint once worked for Mr. Savopoulos’ contraction equipment business, American Iron Works.