Police Issue Arrest Warrant in Gruesome Murder Of D.C. Family After Linking Suspect Through Leftover Pizza Crusts

Police have identified and have an arrest warrant for the man suspected in the gruesome murder of a family and their housekeeper in Washington, D.C. Police are seeking Daron Dylon Wint, 34, in the murder of Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife Amy Savopoulos, 47, their 10-year-old son, Philip, and housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa, 57 in the family’s Northwest Washington home. What is most striking about the story is that the lead came from the crust of a pizza ordered to the house during the family’s long ordeal in captivity before they were beaten to death. The DNA reportedly matched Wint who have a long criminal history.

The family was held overnight on May 13th. It was disclosed this week that Savvas Savopoulos’s personal assistant dropped off a package containing $40,000 in cash at the home — money that was going to be used to start a new a martial arts business. The four were brutally murdered and the house set on fire. Missing was the money and a blue Porsche owned by the family. The car was later torched in a church parking lot in Prince George’s County.

Savvas Savopoulos was the president and chief executive of American Iron Works, which supplies metal to large building projects across the region.The couple has two teenage daughters away in boarding school.

Police report a flurry of calls from the husband to business associates that night as well to a housekeeper telling her not to come in. The money for the pizza was left outside the door of the house for the delivery man.

The thought of what this family, and particularly this child, must have gone through during their captivity and murder is truly nightmarish. Even in a city accustomed to violent crime, this case has been chilling for the city and surrounding areas.

A neighbor told media that he recognized Wint shortly after the homicide as someone who was “hanging out” on the front porch. Wint has a long criminal history that includes domestic violence, burglary and assault.

The DNA link on the pizza shows how far forensics have come in such crime scenes. It also shows that, even after torching a house and a car, such evidence can survive.

Authorities offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction, and asked that anyone with information about the case call police at 202-727-9099.