DNA Test On Pizza Crust Leads To Arrest Warrant For Suspect In Killing Of Wealthy D.C. Family

Officials are investigating the homicides of three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper, whose bodies were found in their $4.5 million Washington, D.C., home after it was set on fire. A warrant was issued Wednesday for the arrest of a 34-year-old man after DNA was discovered on pizza at the scene.

Police said Wednesday that they have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in the deaths of a Washington, D.C., family and their housekeeper.

Savvas Savopoulos, 46; his wife, Amy Savopoulos, 47; 10-year-old son, Philip; and housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa, 57, were found dead in their $4.5 million home near D.C.'s Embassy Row — where diplomats live, as well as the U.S. vice president — when it was set ablaze on May 14, officials said.

On Wednesday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of 34-year-old Daron Dylon Wint of Maryland, according to police. They do not know his location, and are asking the public for assistance in finding him.

Wint was arrested in Maryland on suspicion of assault in 2006, then again in 2009 on suspicion of assault and a sexual offense. In both cases, the charges were ultimately dropped.

The break in the mysterious case came after police said they discovered DNA on the crust of a Domino's pizza that was delivered to the house late Wednesday as authorities say the family was being held hostage, hours before they were killed and the house went up in flames.

Police released images of Daron Dylon Wint.

The family had lived in the neighborhood for more than 10 years and were actively involved in the community, The Washington Post reported.

The couple also had two daughters, who were away at boarding school in other states at the time of the fire.

As the family was held hostage inside their home Thursday night, a package containing $40,000 was dropped off, law enforcement sources told the Washington Post and WRC-TV on Wednesday.

The man who dropped off the money at the house was an assistant of Savvas Savopoulos, unnamed officials told the Post. It is not clear if the employee knew what was inside the package.

It was likely the family was held overnight and possibly bound. Officials are trying to determine when they first encountered the killer or killers.

Veralicia Figueroa, the housekeeper from Silver Spring DC police believe was killed in yesterday's arson in Northwest

The family and housekeeper were found inside the home after crews arrived to put out the fire around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

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Several of the victims were found to have suffered from blunt trauma and stab wounds, prompting investigators to rule the deaths a quadruple homicide, Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Friday.

The family's blue 2008 Porsche — found Thursday night in a church parking lot in Hyattsville, Maryland — had also been set on fire, Lanier said.

The car was found in the same area as American Iron Works headquarters, where Savopoulos served as chief executive, and about 10 miles from the family's home in the 3200 block of Woodland Drive in D.C.

Police also released a video on Sunday of a person who was possibly using the family's car and was later seen running while holding a white bag.

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Officials released the video in an effort to generate help from the public. They are offering up to $25,000 for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Adding to the mystery, authorities said there were no signs of forced entry into the home.

NBC News Washington reported that the house had an elaborate security system and cameras, and that it was likely the suspects knew the family and their day-to-day schedules.

The Associated Press, citing investigators, said Wint likely worked for one of Savopoulos's businesses.

The station also reported that the suspects may have invaded the home Wednesday and held the family overnight until their demands were met. The family was known to have an extensive and valuable art collection.

A Domino's pizza was delivered to the house late Wednesday night, possibly while the family was being held hostage, CNN reported.

FOX 5 DC reported that the pizza delivery man said that around midnight on Wednesday night he left two boxes of pizza at the front door of the house, where there was money left for them in an envelope.

The family's other housekeeper, Nelitza Gutierrez, told NBC News Washington that Savvas Savopoulos had left her message saying Figueroa would be spending the night Wednesday. The chief executive went on to explain in the message that his wife and son were sick, so Figueroa had offered to spend the night, which she had never done before.

Gutierrez said she was told to let Figueroa's family know because her cell phone was out of power, but didn't receive the message until 9 a.m. Thursday. Gutierrez added that the tone of the message sounded suspicious.

Meanwhile, Figueroa's husband, who had expected the housekeeper home Wednesday night, went to the Savopouloses' residence and knocked on the door, but no one answered. Savopoulos reportedly also called Figueroa's husband, saying he forgot to let him know that his wife would be spending the night, Gutierrez said.

Then, three hours before the fire was started on Thursday, Gutierrez received a text from Amy Savopoulos telling her not to come to work.

According to CNN affiliate WJLA, the text message read: "I am making sure you do not come today."

A GoFundMe was started to help Figueroa's family with funeral arrangements. She migrated to America from El Salvador to earn money ahead of her planned retirement next year, Gutierrez said.

BuzzFeed News has reached out to American Iron Works and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department for further information.

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