The D.C. #Savopoulos murders: Aspiring professional race car driver Jordan Wallace, personal assistant of murdered D.C. millionaire Savvas #Savopoulos, focus of D.C. police investigation, documents show
The Mosler racing car of Savvas Savopulos. The registration papers were found by a police search in the BMW owned by Jordan Wallace parked near the Savopoulos residence on the day of the murders.
By Nate Thayer
June 4, 2015
Washington police have increased their focus of scrutiny in the quadruple murder investigation of the family of prominent Washington businessman on a chief witness who was an employee of millionaire Savvas Savopoulos, police documents show.
Police seized ownership documents of a $700,000 race car owned by Savopoulos from the car of aspiring professional race car driver Jordan Wallace, the personal assistant and driver of Savopoulos, who police say also lied to them about the circumstances of delivering $40,000 in “ransom money” to the Savopoulos residence in the hours before the murders.
Jordan Wallace’s 2009 BMW was found parked one block from the crime scene in the hours after the murders. A search warrant was issued on May 15. The warrant was executed on May 21 and a search of the vehicle found the vehicle registration papers for Savopoulos’s $700,000 Mosler race car, along with Wallace’s passport and checkbook, inside a black Herschel backpack on the rear passenger seat of Wallace’s car.
That 2004 Mosler race car is registered as owned by Sigma Investment Enterprises of Hyattsville, Maryland, according to vehicle records obtained. That company is located at the same address as the American Iron Works. Both companies are wholly owned by Savvas Savopoulos, according to corporate records.
The red Mosler racing car has been central featured in the murder investigation. It was parked in the garage of the Savopoulos residence and Wallace claims to have left $40,000 in an envelope on the driver’s seat at the instruction of Savopoulos shortly before the murders.
Police arrest warrants for Daron Wint, 34, of Hyattsville, Maryland, the only person charged so far for the crimes, state “all four decedents were held captive by Mr. Wint and others until the $40,000.00 forty thousand was delivered to the Savopoulos’s residence by (Jordan Wallace). After the money was delivered the four decedents were killed.”
A photo of the Mosler racing car owned by Savopoulos posted by Jordan Wallace in April on one of his social media sites
Wallace is not named as a suspect or even person of interest in the crimes. But police have made clear that Daron Wint had unnamed accomplices and the investigation has focused on building a case to arrest more people.
But, when Wallace was interviewed by police immediately after the murders, police say he “lied” to them about the circumstances surrounding his delivery of the money and how he accessed the racing car.
Both Jordan Wallace and the Savopoulos family had deep ties to the professional car racing world. Savopoulos and his 10 year-old son, Philip, who was also murdered, met Wallace at a local racing track in 2014, where Wallace was working as the Director of Competition until he was fired in March.
10-year-old Philip Savopoulos in his racing go-kart earlier this year with his coach, professional Indy Race driver Jay Howard
Wallace widely posted photos and comments on social media of Savopoulos’s fleet of high-end sport and racing cars, including him driving the rare red Mosler vehicle in recent weeks.
With Wallace possessing the registration papers of Savopoulos’s Mosler racing car which police say Wallace both acknowledged having accessed and lying to them about it in connection to the drop off of ransom money connected to the murders, more unanswered questions have been raised about Wallace’s exact role in the mysterious drama surrounding the quadruple murders.
At around 10:00 in the morning on the day of the murders, “When (Wallace) was ten minutes away from Mr. Savopoulos’ residence he called Mr. Savopoulos on the phone and informed him he had the package and was nearby,” according to police documents. Wallace “stated that Mr. Savopoulos instructed him to place the money on the seat of his red car which was parked in the garage on his house.”
Photo posted by Jordan Wallace car racing manager, Blake Fisher, of J T Wallace Racing,on Fisher’s Facebook page February 2015
Police documents also detail how Wallace “lied”– a word they use in several charging documents, search warrants, and affidavits–about when Savopoulos had called him about picking up the package of money at the company offices in Hyattsville, Maryland; about the circumstances of retrieving the money; about how he delivered the money; what packaging the money was contained in; and how he accessed the Mosler sports car in the Savopoulos residence garage, where Wallace said he left the package.
Wallace first told police “that when he arrived at 3201 Woodland Drive, he went inside the garage and located a key to unlock the door to the car in the garage, and placed the envelope on the driver’s seat. After placing the envelope on the driver’s seat, (Wallace) locked the vehicle and exited the garage and closed the door to the same.”
But police say he “lied” about those details. “Furthermore, (Wallace) admitted that (he) lied when (he) stated the vehicle was locked, (Wallace) stated the vehicle was unlocked and that (he) left the envelope which contained the money in the vehicle.”
In addition, June 5 interviews with contractors who were working on the Savopoulos garage at the time of the murders raised more questions about the accuracy of Wallace’s account of his delivering what the police call “ransom money” immediately before the murders and arson.
The contracting company who was hired by Savopoulos to enlarge the garage say that accessing it required using a coded electronic remote control system. “This I know for sure–you could not manually open or close those garage doors,” said Bill Davies, president of BDC Companies, a Washington, D.C. general contractor hired by Savopoulos to expand the garage from a two to three car bay structure. “You had to use an automatic remote control. It might have had a keypad but I don’t remember seeing one, I never entered from the garage doors, and I never knew an access code number.”
Police tape outside Savopoulos garage (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Davies, who confirmed that the garage housed one car–Savopoulos’s $700,000 red Mosler racing car–said that when he accessed the garage, he would enter the front door of the Savopoulos residence and enter the garage from the kitchen. “Even the door inside the house to the garage was locked and required a remote control to enter the garage.”
After the Money Drop
But Jordan Wallace has a strong alibi showing he was not at Savopoulos’s residence when police say the murders took place.
After dropping off the package of money, Wallace then drove to Virginia to work at a martial arts studio owned by Savopoulos, surveillance camera footage and phone records confirm, providing Wallace a strong alibi for not being present at the crime scene when the murders occurred.
Message from Wallace to Savopoulos Wednesday evening, the night before the murders, confirming he was to pick up a package from the office and deliver it to the Savopoulos residence the next morning. The family was being held hostage at the time and package was ‘ransom money’, according to police
Security cameras show Wallace was at a hardware store near a martial arts studio owned by Savopoulos in Chantilly, Virginia from 11:30 A.M until noon.
Savopoulos called Wallace at 11:54 a.m on Thursday, May 14, but the call was not answered, records show. It was the last incoming or outgoing call Savopoulos made or answered before the fire and his murder, which police say occurred sometime between noon and 1:24 P.M Thursday, when Washington emergency personnel were dispatched after reports of a house fire.
Wallace was in Chantilly at 1:34 P.M, according to cell phone tower records, when firefighters arrived at the Savopoulos residence in Washington, D.C.—-placing Wallace 30 miles away from the crime scene.
But Wallace returned to the crime scene immediately after the murders and police discovered his unoccupied car hours after the murder parked one block from the crime scene, police documents say.
Police documents state “Mr Wallace’s vehicle was recovered approximately one block away from the crime scene on May 14, 2015”, the day of the murders. The next day, police applied for a search warrant of Jordan Wallace’s vehicle, according to court documents.
Police applied for a search warrant of Wallace’s BMW, saying they believed “located inside the target vehicle is evidence related to the murder of the four decedents” and “forensic and physical evidence linking Jordan Wallace to this offence.”
Police seized the vehicle and searched it on May 21.
Police found inside a black Herschel backpack on the rear passenger seat of Wallace’s BMW vehicle registration papers for a “MOSL 25” with Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 1M94136B24C682017.
Wallace first told police that Savopoulos had called him early on the day of the murders and asked him to pick up a package from the American Iron Works office in Hyattsville, Maryland and deliver it to the Savopoulos residence in the upscale Woodley Park neighborhood of Northwest Washington.
But police confronted Wallace with records from Wallace’s own black Apple iPhone with a brown wooden case which showed that Wallace sent a text to Savvas Savopoulos at 8:30 p.m. the night before, on Wednesday May 13: “Got your message, I’ll call you once I get the package,” it read.
Wallace then acknowledged to police that his first account was not accurate and confirmed that the request to retrieve and deliver the package was made on Wednesday evening.
Police have not said why Wallace had two versions of his account of this and other aspects of the money drop in the hours surrounding the murders.
Wallace first went to the Hyattsville offices of the Anerican Iron Works on the morning of March 14 to retrieve the money from other Savopoulos employees, according to police.
After picking up 4 bundles of hundred-dollar bills still wrapped in bank bands, Wallace texted a person, who the police identify only as “Witness # 2″, a photo of a red bag with two bundles of money wrapped in white bank bands at 9:00 A.M Thursday morning.
This investigation has identified “Witness #2 as Wallace’s girlfriend, Ashley Barrett, of Annapolis, Maryland. Barrett is listed as the “Director of Social Media and Photography” at the Autobahn Speedway in Jessup, Maryland, , according to several employees of Autobahn Speedway and others. Wallace worked at the speedway as director of competition and head of media relation, before being fired in March. Savvas Savopoulos and his ten year-old son, Philip, were frequent visitors to the speedway, where they first met Wallace sometime in 2014.
According to copies of the text messages obtained by the Washington Post, Wallace texted Barrett a photo of the red bag and money at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Barrett replied to the text picture “Daaaamn. I wonder how much it is?”
Wallace responded “40”.
“Jesus,” replied Barrett.
Barrett did not return several phone calls asking for comment. Autobahn Speedway employees confirmed she was Wallace’s girlfriend, but said a company wide memo has been distributed to all employees forbidding them from commenting publicly about Jordan Wallace or the murder case.
At 10:26 a.m. on the morning of the murders, according to text messages records obtained by the Washington Post, Wallace texted Savopoulos: “Package delivered.”
Wallace then drove to Virginia to work at a martial arts studio owned by Savopoulos.
“Your affiant believes all four decedents were held captive by Mr. Wint and others until the $40,000.00 forty thousand was delivered to the Savopoulos’s residence by (Jordan Wallace). After the money was delivered the four decedents were killed,” read a police arrest warrant for Daron Wint.
IIRC the registration papers found in the backpack expired in 2013
Sue H:
Just to clarify.. Registration paperwork is used for motor vehicle inspections, and as proof of ownership if stopped by law enforcement to check the VIN.
However, a vehicle title document is used show ownership, as well as to reassign property ownership at the DMV.
If Wallace had the $700K Mosler title that is very incriminating, since it would not be be locked in a safe. I read the safe was unlocked.
Wondering…. why LE has not read Wallace his Miranda rights and arrested him by now??
On the search warrant return it says nothing about the title. It says an expired registration exp 11-08-13 was found in JW black backpack.
To me the fact he isn’t arrested is that the police have gone through his story step by step and have been able to confirm it through other people, video etc
Sue H: Yet, there is no legitimate reason (I can think of) for Jordan Wallace to even have the Mosler’s vehicle registration paperwork in his backpack in the first place! It normally belongs inside the specific vehicle, particularly if it is being driven on the roads as evidenced by the image of Wallace in a snapshot on one of his social media accounts, as shown on this very thread.
And, owners can easily update their vehicle registrations online or via regular mail. I highly question the rationale behind Wallace having this evidence in his vehicle.
If an honest individual is 100% innocent, wouldn’t they do everything on gods green earth from the very beginning to try to help law enforcement to find the real killers as quickly as possible??
All of the alibis in the world would never lead me to believe Jordan Wallace was not an integral part of the Savopoulous home invasion and murder plot. At this point, there are simply too many versions of his interview statements to lead me to see otherwise.
This case will likely be migrated from a civil matter to federal jurisdiction, if this change has not occurred already, it will probably happen soon.
No, an innocent person who believes the police may suspect he may be involved in a homicide does not do everything he can to “help” the police find the real killers. That’s the job of the police. Said person gets a lawyer and protects himself. Being innocent doesn’t mean you have to be stupid. I hope everyone knows that.
Jana:
Most innocent people do not hire lawyers right off the bat when talking with law enforcement. Only suspects who have some reason for concern regarding their statements need to hire counsel immediately.
If someone interviewed by LE is 100% innocent and tells the truth and it clears them of suspicion by being forthcoming with the information given why on gods green earth would they still be considered a suspect??
Also, it is against the law to withhold information, aid or abet pertinent to any murder investigation.
Again… a person who IS an actual ‘suspect’ would lawyer up immediately because their version of events would not be straightforward and clear them of wrongdoing.
Everyone should know this.
Have a nice day!
“Only suspects who have some reason for concern regarding their statements need to hire counsel immediately.”
Whoa!!! You did not say that did you? LOL! I kid, but not really. If I had just delivered cash to a house where dead bodies were later found I’d have to be awfully naive not to think that I could be considered a suspect at any time.
And naive JW was, because he DIDN’T get a lawyer before talking to the police. At least not that I am aware. And now if all he did was misspeak or is just an idiot who got things and times and the order of things wrong he is being labeled a liar and is clearly a target. That’s why you have a lawyer and insist on a video tape of your interrogation/interview. So no one can misconstrue or mischaracterize your statements.
In the District of Columbia it is against the law to lie to the local police (it isn’t in all jurisdictions) and it is against the law to lie to federal law enforcement officials.
But it is not against the law to refuse to cooperate, refuse to be interrogated, refuse to give any information to the police.
The only way you can be made to give such information is if you are properly served with a subpoena to either appear before a grand jury (and I mean the grand jury itself, not the prosecutor’s office) or to appear for a court hearing such as a trial. And all that is premised on the assumption you have no 5th Amendment right to assert for refusing to give testimony. And, yes, even innocent people have the right to assert the 5th Amendment if their answers can in any way provide a link to a crime.
People need to know their rights. Further, people should not be afraid to assert those rights or shamed into abandoning them because they fear how they will look.
Great forum. And good work on the addresses and map.
Curious as to the $700K Mosler vehicle title information is currently in the prosecutor’s hands as positive evidential discovery; yet has still not produced an arrest warrant for Jordan Wallace’s involvement in the Savopoulos home invasion murder plot??
This could potentially explain why LE were watching the mansion and the garage door was left open, in order to confirm if any of vehicle’s had been tampered or moved.
And, I wonder how LE knows for certain it was not the killers who were texting from Savva’s mobile which could place more suspects at the murder scene?
Imo, this case has so many agencies involved, perhaps the FBI will decide to escalate the matter to a federal crime from a civil case.
This would effectively place the death penalty back on the table, as there is no capital punishment in D.C. since the 1970’s. The wheels of justice often turn all too slowly.
We really don’t know if he ever drove the Mosler or even got in it. I only take what he says as half truth/half lie. Especially since there’s no behind the wheel selfie like all of the other cars. A narcissistic showoff like him would surely take one of that. I believe Moslers have sophisticated alarms, tracking, remote kill switch, and access to internet. Cops probably know he never opened it from that.
Great job with the info about contractor & garage doors. Just what I suspected.
Amy: Actually, there is a photo on this very thread of Jordan Wallace driving the Mosler.
Check again and you will see it is Wallace in the driver’s seat.
I do not see any pic of him and the Mosler. The only Mosler picture is some grainy 400 pixel image looking like it was taken from Google Images when he sent it from his twitter.
I can post image of the White House and say I live there but it doesn’t make it true.
Amy: If you cannot see a very clear image of the Mosler in question and Jordan Wallace in the driver’s seat along with a caption that he had posted this pic on social media, I have no further suggestions for you.
Have a nice day!
Is there a way you could put a link to it? Thanks!
I spy a guy, wow, an arm above the steering wheel of a not-very-grainy Mosler photo posted w/ multiple LOOK AT ME tags under Jordan Wallace’s Instagram screen shot. So snarky..
Unbelievable, that Wallace would think that he could get away with taking the Mosler, once he had the family killed. I for one think that Wallace went to the Savopoulos’ house on Wednesday evening, after he texted his message to Savvas first.
Someone who had inside information was in that house, directing and deciding how the information was going to be sent (by text or phone calls) to anyone that was expected at the home the next day and what Savvas needed to say to his employees at Ironworks, to get the money released and handed over to Wallace. I also believe that Wallace tortured little Philip to get Savvas onboard with the money demands and to get to the paperwork (ownership) of the car!
The family’s one chance of being “discovered” hinged on their maid’s Veralicia’s husband’s interpretation of the information given to him. He was told by a phone message that Vera was still needed at the home on Thursday (despite spending the night) for the family needed her to drive Philip and Amy to the hospital. The husband thought this strange and odd, for his wife didn’t drive and she didn’t speak very good english. This is why he came to the house, early Thursday morning. Had he called the police, and asked for a house check, things might have turned out differently.
I hope that the Crime scene investigators took samples of multiple surfaces that would be touched in a 19 hour time period. Toilets, faucets, beverage containers, door knobs, refrigerator handles, chairs, couches, beds, etc.
I wonder what Wallace was going to do with the Mosler, once he taken possession of it? Sell it in Canada or Mexico?
I am attaching the search warrant for Wallace’s BMW. What does it mean on page 9, article 11, when it says Wallace’s vehicle was “recovered” approximately one block away from the crime scene? Did they tow his car on the day of the fire? Also, I haven’t seen this mentioned but one of the female victims must have still been alive, as it says on page 6 that an adult female was transported to Georgetown Hospital where life-saving efforts failed. apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/search-warrant-for-car-in-savopoulos-family-killings/1569/. I believe the Savopoulos parents would have found a way to come up with any amount of money if it meant saving their son. It was my gut feeling from the beginning that he was singled out for extra-heinous and gruesome crimes against his person more out of personal hatred than extortion. And that is JMO.
priesteres marietje:
‘Recovery’ simply means law enforcement ‘located’ Wallace’s vehicle on 5/14/15.
The items found were listed on an affidavit dated 5/21/15 and included the vehicle registration paperwork for the Mosler.
The extortion may have had something to do with a race car competition in California Wallace wanted to participate. Perhaps, Wallace asked Savopoulas to enter the Mosler in the competition and was refused. So, a murder plot may have developed to gain possession of the Mosler vehicle and cash was needed in part to fund the trip and to pay off the accomplices. And, maybe, $40K was much less than they expected for the requested ransom amount.
But, if Daron Wint does possess a true propensity for killing and using machetes as shown in a previous indictment and witness statements… this may have been revenge against the family harbored for many years after termination from his employment as a welder at American Ironworks. Whatever was going on with this horrific home invasion appears to have started with Jordan Wallace’s delving knowledge of his employer’s business dealings.
On a total sidebar note, a few years ago we had an intern working for us for 3 months with a n unknown family history of grifting. This individual cracked computer passcodes by watching from behind with a camera surveillance tool, researched executive home addresses and stole blank checks from the company. And, when terminated turned physically violent along with verbal threats. Police had to be called in to forcibly remove this sociopathic person from the work premise.
We had no idea check forgery and robbery was the motive to get hired on since this person had manipulated fabulous references and even educational degrees with honors, drove a brand new BMW and dressed the part of a successful businessperson in the toniest zip code in our city. The department head of the graduating university gave glowing reports… this student was by far his “best and brightest!” Total snow job.
Later, we learned one of this person’s parents was sentenced to a federal prison for forgery and extortion of over six million dollars from their employer. And, this situation with us was planned to be a massive plot to gain control of company finances against the wills our owners!
The interesting part was that this person play acted so well, I would say, it was Oscar worthy. However, the first telltale sign was they could not perform one proficiency shown on their CV. The second flaw in this misguided plan was IT had figured out they were decoding the owner’s laptops after the passwords were changed. And, this person was caught on video stealing file folders and other corporate property. Once arrested, the waterworks and begging began, but the CEO was undaunted. The result was a felony conviction. Nice work for just turning 25 and wasting your life away behind bars for a few years!
priesteres marietje,
It was reported several times in the Washington Post that the perpetrators attempted to have hundreds of thousands of dollars via wire transfer from Savvas & Amy’s bank accounts but all those attempts failed allegedly due to bank security. It was never explained if the banks attempted to contact Savvas or Amy as banks do via email, text, phone to inform the account holder that suspicious activity has been observed. Regardless if they would have stolen more money, the victims still would have been murdered. The Savopolous family and Ms. Figueroa all knew their captors.
The sadistic torture and the fact that Philip’s body was “burnt beyond recognition” and because the accelerant and fire was concentrated mainly in the room where Philip was being held captive – I believe to be indicators that the person ordering and orchestrating the torture, or the one physically meting out the torture – hated Philip Savopoulos.
If this would have simply been a case of leave-no-witness behind, I could be wrong but I don’t believe there would have been this level of depravity involved.
Would you link this information “It was reported several times in the Washington Post that the perpetrators attempted to have hundreds of thousands of dollars via wire transfer from Savvas & Amy’s bank accounts but all those attempts failed allegedly due to bank security.” Following this story from the beginning I don’t remember any amounts being mentioned only that a flurry of phone calls back and forth. Thanks,
Thank you Nate, for laying out all the facts in such an objective fashion. The sequence of the facts paints a story that doesn’t necessarily bode well for Jordan Wallace. That is not stopping certain internet sleuths, who are in denial that Jordan Wallace could possibly be involved in this crime in any way, from being disgusted with you for relaying the facts–although there’s not a whole heck of a lot they can say since most of what you have reported is confirmed. Lock your doors! 🙂
No,no. They aren’t disgusted with Mr. Thayer for THAT. They are disgusted that he did not credit their work to connect JT to DW through addresses at the apartment complex. That was the work of three members of the Websleuth.com group and they also gave the information to LE who shortly after receiving the tip
asked for search warrants for JWs’ car. I can provide more details.
Emmavoberry: I have no idea what you are talking about, except you are simply wrong–and spreading malicious gossip to boot. You have crossed the line to make the most egregious accusation one can make in the profession of journalism: Plagiarism. I did not credit for the work of anyone for what I wrote regarding “connecting JW and DW” through various shared addresses at their apartment complex as that was my original research. You should supply named, detailed sourcing for such an accusation and you should sign it with your real name. And then you should retract it, as it is false at best and a knowing malicious lie at worst. I look forward to your prompt response. Nate Thayer
emmavoberry:
How is it that SUDDENLY you show up on a blog which has been in progress for weeks and is solely owned by Nate Thayer, an award-winning journalist, and provide NO proof, no REAL first and last names and nothing to back up your bizarre statements written at 2:45 am on June 18th.
I watched Nate Thayer talk about the ties to the addresses several weeks ago on a NATIONAL TV BROADCAST PROGRAM!!!
Where are these websleuths vetted by a reliable news source???
Were they on national TV talking about this case??? NOOOOO!!!
So, WHO ARE YOU???
Prove those posts were online PRIOR to Nate Thayer going on TV with a break in the case connecting the LAST TWO KNOWN PEOPLE TO HAVE SEEN THE FAMILY AND HOUSEKEEPER ALIVE!!!
NOW…. TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!! This has been a civil debate and discussion board up to this point. Our posters ensure respect for the opportunity to agree to disagree. BUT, WE DO NOT LIE!!!
Waiting for your speedy retraction since you are not really as anonymous as you may think you are on a WP blog, emmavoberry…. note, I did not specifically call you emmadingleberry…. which is EXACTLY what I was really thinking of calling you!!!
I, for one, would like to place a vote to ban you totally off these boards!!!
Commenter, there is a small cabal on the other sleuthsite that dislike Nate and the suggestion that JW could ever be involved. Best just to ignore them and their taunts and don’t take their bait by calling them names.
Tom:
I understand your points; however, if Nate Thayer wants to delete my post that is fine with me. Otherwise, I will defend what I know to be factual and not stand idly for such trash talk on what has been up to now a civil board. Also, I may have gone within an inch of actual name calling…. something, I would never do, unless, I believed it to be totally warranted. Thanks for the heads up, though.
I am completely retracting my earlier comment. I was wrong to plunge in to a situation I knew nothing about, had no real facts on (though I thought I had), about which I took the word of a few other people –out of impulsive loyalty–without having done my homework. I had been very impressed with Mr. Thayer’s article. I apologize for my totally baseless accusation.
I as out of bounds, but I do not think I could possibly damage Mr. Thayer’s excellent reputation, as I am nothing but an elderly amateur without claim to note, much less worldly success or talent on the order of Mr. Thayer. If anything, the fact that I do not use my real name demonstrates, not cowardice, so much as humility. My name is not attached to any useful product in a creative, intellectual, or economic sense. I have had letters sent from my account claiming I had been mugged and needed money. People believed the letter, but no one sent money.
I don’t know honestly why anyone with Mr. Thayer’s credentials would concern himself with crack-pot comments. It would be one thing if I were a contemporary Hannah Arendt. And who will I gossip to; who will listen to me and believe anything I say? Again, a nobody, certainly not anyone whose idle commentary would be taken in any serious quarter, by anyone of consequence to Mr. Thayer’s award winning career or his journalistic integrity.
Mr. Thayer, with sincerity, I thank you for providing a comment section. I thank you in humility. I also remind you that as administrator of your own blog, you can remove careless remarks.
I made stupid remarks. That is it. Although they may appear to have been made out of personal spite, actually they represent the sum total of a deficit in academic education, an inability to distinguish fact from opinion, a lazy and malnourished intellect, and an unbridled stupidity.
I have read your work now; I have read the comments here. I ask: can any of you say my post was anything but crass and ill-considered? Consider the source!
Grant me my Darwin award and we leave it there.
In my defense, I am most deserving of it.
emmavoberry:
Well, I must say, your sincerely apologetic post certainly elevates
self-deprecation to the level of an art form…. just slightly north of the border of abject sarcasm.
Obviously, you possess not a bit of deficit in terms of academic background or intellectual ability.
I can offer some benefit of a doubt, however with trepidation and reservation.
Unless, this is your certain way of flirtation with our resident genius?! n which case, I am completely rapt by your hyperbolic-stylistic prose.
Either way, I really should not have even implied the term ’emmadingleberry’ as a an ersatz screen name for you – and, Tom alerted me with a warning Still, .it was a cheap and easy shot at your clever play on words from Flaubert’s Madame Bovary.
And, what an interesting character to follow from a novel written by the great French master of the first modern novel. How fascinating to find you here among so many random journalists and researchers seeking clues to solving the D.C. mansion murder mystery!
So…are you an author or an academic… or, both?? Are you researching for a book on this subject material?? Just curious, by nature… not intended to be sarcastic or anything akin to it.
Bienvenu, Bovary!! Please tell us your theories of this case. Take your time……. inquiring minds are often insomniacs.
Dear Commenter,
I do not see the reply button so…
I was touched by your welcome. At first I thought you were saying a swear word to me in another language. I was much relieved when upon running your post’s closing through Babel, I found you had perhaps forgiven me–you won’t ever have to slap your head and scream “mon die,” I promise. I will not re-offend. I promise Mr. Thayer too as he has been gracious in not “booting” me off. That alone shows character.
I am also struck that you are familiar with “Madame Bovary,” probably one of my favorite movies. I did not know Louis Jordan was the father of the modern novel. Interesting. He did have a certain look of intelligence. I feel Jennifer Jones in her portrayal of Madame B. managed to bring out the innocence and yet the avarice.
Speaking of Jordan Wallace: he is innocent. That is my theory anyway. I think he texted in that terse, coded way because that is how his boss had texted him–about “the package.” Not knowing how one speaks about money matters to the wealthy, he thought it best to bring an equal discretion to his own communication. Those who claim the texts sound like two people discussing a drug deal (or ransom money they are going to split) have obviously never had to carry a red bag with 40 thousand dollars in it.
Also,the reason Jordan Wallace lied to the police is that they beat him with telephone books and did not allow him to drink a glass of champagne when he requested it.
That champagne was Jordan Wallace’s drink of choice, as evidenced by his now deleted Face Book photos, shows that he did not know Daron Wint. Whereas Wint was a man of few aspirations beyond stabbing people, Jordan Wallace wanted to become a race car driver and was well on his way. He was probably fired from the Go-Kart place because the owner felt like Charles to his Diana.
Some people would say there are no coincidences in crime. In this particular crime, there are multiple ones, mainly centered around Jordan Wallace which only goes to show life is stranger than fiction.
Maybe someday Mr. Thayer will forgive me just a little. I got in with the wrong crowd I guess and now they don’t like me either. Believe it or not, the group which must go unnamed, does not allow unfounded allegations and have deleted all my posts and every other stupid ones. Mine were meant to be light-hearted but I was misunderstood and I go the boot. Ironic, yes?
Which brings up the last peg in my theory. If you look at pictures of Jordan Wallace, you see a certain Joie de Vivre. That is something you never see if someone is really capable of murder. Murderers are unhappy by nature.
I am flirting, but only a tiny bit.
You don’t have to apologize for the Dingleberry thing. It was rather Punny.
A demain ou le semaine prochaine?
Emma PS
You guessed it. I am an author. I have a body of work online in a variety of forums,mainly to do with dogs, but some are political. I once wrote a blog which garnered over 100 responses, most of them negative.
I too as you can see am insomniacal, another good movie with Al Pacino and Robin Williams remember?
Emma:
Me thinks, you may already have known Gustave Flaubert, (not Louis Jourdan the film screen idol) is the one considered to be the first to employ literary realism to the novel. Just as I figure you probably already knew ‘bienvenu’ means welcome in French.
Your suppositions of Jordan Wallace are based upon notions pulled from the sky from thin air. There is nothing to back up your convivial intuition about his naive innocence.
You are definitely entertaining, I will give you that, though!
Hi Emma. This is kammiemc. I just shortened to my initials (for no reason than I just thought to type them) when I first commented here, so stuck with it. That was very cool of you to retract. As you know, I defended Nate on that site. I think Nate has done the best reporting on this case so far and I just couldn’t stand the witch hunt. (Which is weird considering how strongly some of those posters think that speculating that JW might be involved on some level in a case, IN WHICH HE LIED TO LE, is like a witch hunt!) Sorry you got kicked off. Did they give you a reason?
Why on earth would Mr. Savapoulos have kept such a rare and valuable car at his residence with his family? He should have placed it at a secured storage facility or warehouse someplace. Also surprising is that he would allow this wanna-be-race-car-driver kid to be anywhere near it. I have no desire to own anything worth that much money, but if I did, one would be able to count on less than one hand the number of people who would know about it. Did he not anticipate that this kid, who had recently been fired from his job and having diffificulty getting the funds to continue racing, would not be envious and coveteous of his wealth and of the car?
I’m sure he would have given up that race car a thousand times to save his son from torture and death. At the end of the day it shows how truly meaningless material possessions are. What a needless, heartbreaking tragedy.
My first reaction when I saw how Wallace came to be Mr. Savopoulis’ assistant was “why would he give Wallace un-merited trust and access to his family without making him prove himself first?”
Growing up, we had this family in our neighborhood who was poorer than most. Both parents were alcoholics, on government assistant, and made their kids fend for themselves. The parents would take off for the weekend and make the older ones look after the younger ones. Needless to say, the younger ones would come around their friends’ house begging for food, putting their friends up to asking their parents to feed them. They were also the fist ones to arrive at our houses on Christmas morning, asking us what we got, wanting us to let them play with our toys.
I will never forget one summer day, when our family was gone at the lake (we didn’t invite them this time) we came home and discovered our house had been broken into, and paper route and chore money taken. Upon further discovery and information by the neighbors, two of the kids who were “supposedly our friends” did it! I remember my Dad saying this: “the more you have, the more you have to worry about.”
I never understood the wisdom of his words, until years later! It is also why the wealthy become very guarded and cynical of peoples’ motives!!!
linhula,
The Savopoulos’ had an art collection worthy of a small museum worth (reportedly) several millions of dollars. Initially, the art collection was thought to be the motive for these crimes. Their mansion being part of a holiday house tour last year.
Wallace is definitely involved. A lot of people (not on this blog) but on others seem to believe articulate charming handsome Wallace is innocent of even the suspicion of involvement. They believe everything Wallace says and/or appears to have done on those 2 fateful days. They attribute his giving the wrong (aka lying) to detectives to being confused and upset. But I don’t believe he’s innocent. The story didn’t make sense from the get go. Because any normal person, knowing that his employer and his employer’s family and domestic employee(s) are in danger and being held for ransom would have notified the authorities. If not the police then they would have contacted (in this case for instance) Savvas’ father or a high level employee at AIW. What is Wallace’s excuse for not having told anyone about his employer’s strange and dangerous predicament? It’s not sensible to believe that just because his alibi of being in Chantilly, VA when the family met their final doom was verified by detectives – that this some how proves his innocence. Neither can we know for certain that when Wallace claims he was texting/calling Savvas or Amy (or anyone else for that matter) that he really was communicating with Savvas or Amy (and he would have known that they were not in control of their phones. These “communications” were orchestrated merely to give the appearance of ABC having happened and to establish what he was doing). I doubt that Savvas or Amy had control of their phones, and were not able to speak as they wished to. So when they did actually make a call, what they said and did didn’t make sense. Like Savvas calling and speaking with/ or leaving a message for housekeeper #2 (the one who as not working at the mansion at the time of the invasion) for her to call Ms. Figueroa’s family because her cell phone had died and she did not have her phone charger, and to let them know she’d be spending the night? This doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t he or Amy of just given Ms. Figueroa one of their cell phones to call her family? Also, I would be surprised if the mansion didn’t have at least 1 landline. Even if it doesn’t, why wouldn’t Ms. Figueroa have borrowed 1 of their cell phones to call her family? Another thing we cannot know for certain, even with detailed cell phone gps tracking, is was the person to whom the cell belongs really traveling with their phone at any given time. Does Wint’s brother resemble Wallace? Does Wallace have a brother and they look very much alike? Is there 3rd perp who could pass for Wallace’s brother? And what does the other AIW employee, I believe Savvas’ accountant, have to say about those 2 days? What is his/her demeanor? What is his/her story about Savvas contacting him and requesting 40k be given to Jordan Wallace? I believe Wallace had only worked for Savopoulos for about 3 weeks when the family was being held against their will. Would Savvas really trust a new hire with that amount of money? Was it common for Savvas to entrust his employees, even newly hired ones, with that kind of responsibility. I would believe by now that detectives have interviewed past employees of Savvas’. Did ever have a personal assistance prior to Wallace? If so, what do they have to say about what kind of tasks and responsibilities Savvas gave them?
Treya, you made a very compelling argument to why Wallace must be involved!
He fits the MOM equation. He had a Motive-get access to quick money & the racing car; he saw an Opportunity- to get inside the house while Savvas was away; and he orchestrated the Means- by his thug friends & accomplices!!!!
Because Savvas and Amy were politically connected (said to be in the Washington DC’s “green book” of the mover’s and shaker’s), they may have wanted to shred racial-economic divides by extending an opportunity and trust to someone young and chrismatic like Wallace!
One common trait that is being seen in the Generation X and Millenial generations is ” extended adolescence” & “the increase of Narcissism!” Young people want all the perks/pleasures of a luxurious lifestyle and job titles, without earning it or paying their dues first! The 5 hallmarks of being a responsible adult are: finishing school (graduating from HS/trade school/ college); leaving home; become financially self supporting; getting married; & having children. In yesteryear, these hallmarks were ALL met by age 30 by the majority of the population, but today it just isn’t so!
White collar crime is on the rise; people are maxing out their credit and buying houses that are way over their earnings, or what they can comfortably afford! Kids from all economic classes are getting hooked on drugs (heroine, especially) Grandparents are the grandchildren, and young working professionals are switching jobs every 2-3 years because they are “bored” or want more money!
We shake our heads, wring our hands, sigh loudly, wondering what went wrong? Why are our younger citizens no longer civil, peace loving, law abiding, respect authority or want to wait their turn????? answer; because the previous generations have spoiled them, making them erroneously believe that life should be easy-breazy, and NOONE should have more than the next person!!!!
Meant to say “grandparents are raising their grandchildren”
Clue Bird,
Yes I agree that Wallace had the means, motive, and opportunity. It just shows how powerful the envy and jealousy Wallace had for little Philip. Because why would any healthy normal right thinking person murder a kind-hearted generous person who not only gave you a wonderful job (from the way it sounds to me) when you needed one AND has connections within the professional racing world you wish to become a part of?
Do you happen to know if Jordan Wallace attended the funeral for the Savopouloses?
Also, do you have any information on who rented the box truck? I read it was from a rental company not from the DC area and not from the east coast. I believe the truck is from a western state, like Colorado. A spokesperson for the rental company (I’ve never heard of them? said that LE has assured them that no one who was arrested that evening with Wint (including Wint) has any connection to having rented the box truck, or any employment connection with the truck rental company. The spokesperson also stated that their company does not rent trucks or any vehicles to American Iron Works. So if the truck was not stolen, who rented it? And why a box truck? Why not rent a sedan or suv?
Treya:
Reportedly, Jordan Wallace did not attend the Savopoulos’ funeral services.
Some posters expressed his absence glaring and disrespectful given he was the last one in contact with Savvas Savopoulos and because all AIW employees were present.
Law enforcement has stated on record they know where JW is at all times. Which could means he may have been placed under protective custody?
Thanks commenter. I think if Wallace was in protective custody that would be public knowledge and anyone else who was a part of this conspiracy murder, would be begging LE for a deal. I could be wrong. I believe Jordan Wallace did not attend the funeral because it is a glaring expression of his guilt for his involvement in the conspiracy-murder plot.
No innocent person ever needs to concoct multiple versions of recent events… particularly, when the facts of the situation are in the immediate past and involve a multiple homicide case!
Wire transfers of enormous amounts of money is a federal offense… even if those events were thwarted by banking procedures…. particularly, in the commission of murder (or multiple murders)… it is still a capital crime.
What the killers physically did to the Savopoulos family and housekeeper was so depraved, it will necessarily elevate this case from a civil matter to a federal case and capital punishment will be back on the table, as D.C. currently does not have the death penalty.
In order to get $40K withdrawn from a bank takes several layers of internal securities and sign offs by management. It would be interesting to see the video of the AIW Accountant during this transaction… or, to hear what he told the BOA banker since they are trained to ask questions for amounts exceeding $10K since more signature paperwork is required. The Accountant should have questioned even giving such a large ca$h sum to Jordan Wallace – and for this reason, he would need to be on the list of potential suspects, as well.
The wheels of justice are turning. Evidently, LE does not want this case tried in the court of public opinion so they can get the right convictions. However, ALL those in any manner responsible will pay dearly with their lives totally destroyed, and rightly so!
Perhaps this has already been reported but do we know the money came out of a bank account? The affidavit in support of Wint’s arrest leaves questions for me. I haven’t read any account of the accountant’s version – perhaps others have.
JW claims to have witnessed some sort of transaction between the accountant and a bank employee. We aren’t advised as to any details. We aren’t advised in the affidavit as to whether this is still regarded as part of the true scenario.
So my question is: could the money have come from a safe deposit box. There would need to be a “transaction” as in signing in before access to the boxes was allowed. A casual viewing of that “transaction” wouldn’t necessarily reveal the details or purpose. It’s plausible that an accountant might have access to a company safe deposit box or even one of SS’ personal boxes at that bank. The bank employee could easily have handed the accountant an empty manila envelope for use. That might explain why the money came out of the accountant’s pockets – or has that factor changed.
Of course, all that presupposes there are even safe deposit boxes at that branch.
Just curious.
JW’s final story (as is in the doc, and as has been reported) is that he stated he didn’t see a transaction and didn’t go into the bank, but instead the cash came from the accountant’s pockets. It’s worded in a way that (IMO) makes it clear that this is what JW stated, not what LE necessarily believes to be true. LE was looking for BofA papers in JW’s car, for what it’s worth.
I have no idea whether Wallace is involved or not. I do think people are taking non-suspicious acts and making everything he did seem suspicious. Admittedly I see some factors that make me suspicious of JW but I am also trying to be objective.
For instance, why would JW have called the police or need an “excuse for not having told anyone about his employer’s strange and dangerous predicament” ?
All we are talking about is his very wealthy employer wanting $40k in cash. That may seem odd to some but there are a variety of other explanations for wanting that which don’t involve kidnapping, murder or any “dangerous predicament.” JW was told the accountant was handling the money so why would he think he should interfere with that arrangement and “report” it to anyone. Low level employees do not question their bosses – particularly one who has already terminated one job JW held, the son’s driving coach. For all JW knew his boss was involved with money laundering and what employee speak up about that.
I have a problem with anyone thinking the detective’s affidavit is 100% accurate. They almost never, ever are. They are written with the intent to secure warrants. Police recreations and paraphrasing of interrogations – both questions and answers – are also regularly misleading. For instance, no where do the police even say that JW says the car was locked – just that JW said he got the key first and then put the money in the car. Now maybe he did say it but we can’t tell from the wording of that affidavit. Maybe he got the key and discovered the car unlocked or maybe he never even said the car was locked and the detectives simply inferred he meant that because he said he got the key. There are a number of other similar examples I found in the affidavit (re: text messages & the money) and unless and until we see the video of this interrogation we won’t know how accurate the detective’s characterizations of JW’s answers are. We also won’t even know what was asked or how it was asked.
I also don’t see anything inherently suspicious about the search warrant for JW’s car. It was a very early stage effort to secure any and all evidence involving this crime. As one of the persons who participated in the securing and delivering of the money and in that car, the police would naturally want to see what, if any, evidence or leads were in it.
Yes, I can envision involvement based on a number of factors we know as fact – as opposed to supposition. But for each of those same factors I personally think seem suspicious I can also envision an innocent explanation.
Jana, I cannot find the article about wire transfers so it must have been reported on TV news. I live in Washington and since this story broke, we’ve been watching local NBC and FOX news coverage. We also watched Chris Hayes of MSNBC cover the story a few times week after the murders. I’ll try to search show transcripts if I have the time. But what was reported was that the murderers were planning on stealing much more than 40K but were unable to gain access to the family and/or business accounts. If Savvas gave incorrect security codes – was not stated. Also, if banks contacted, or tried to contact Savvas or Amy or AIW (if any attempts were on a business account) – also was not stated. I know this was reported more than once locally because we were hoping to learn what bank security protocol is when there are multiple requests for tens of thousands of dollars. It’s heart breaking to learn that with all our 21st century technology, a bank doesn’t think to alert authorities when seeing a pattern like that within a short time frame.
If it walks like a duck, it’s a duck Wallace imo is one roasted duck. I’d not be surprised if he doesn’t commit suicide before LE obtains arrest warrant for him.
The 40K we do not know for certain was truly withdrawn from a bank account. It could have been in a safe at AIW, or in a safety deposit box. I don’t think LE has commented much more about the alleged account’s role is obtaining the 40K.
We also do not know for certain that every text from the cell phones of Savvas and Amy were really made by them. Likewise, GPS tracking of mobile phones does not guarantee that the owner of traced phone was actually travelling with their phone.
There are cameras at many of the embassies, and VP ust blocks from the Savopoulos mansion. Some of the mansions, and even more modest homes in that area of Woodley Park have cameras which may pick up street/sidewalk views of their property and that of their neighbor.
There are also cameras along New York Ave (where witnesses claim they saw Amy’s porche). I’d be very surprised if LE did not have CCTV video of the driver of the Porsche on afternoon of Thursday, May 14th.
That section of the Woodley Park neighborhood does not have a lot of foot traffic. Their street does not see a lot of car traffic.
I drive through this neighborhood almost every week day morning at around 8:45 am. I only occasionally see someone walking their dog, or jogging. The only people you see outside the homes are contractors, and landscapers. I know it’s been reported that this section pays for their own security but I’ve never noticed them.
With Wallace’s story changing, at least once, it makes me suspicious. Not only that but why would he text Amy about a possible house fire?
Another thing I wonder is why wasn’t Savvas at the martial arts center on Thursday? The next day was the grand opening.
He was at the center on Wednesday until he was called home by Amy at around 5:30 to stay with Phillip as she went out for the evening. He wasn’t here on Thursday because he was being held captive at that time.
Dear Tim,
I was not asking about Wednesday. Was asking specifically about Thursday. What is Wallace’s account of why Mr. S was not at the martial arts center?
Really Tim? Mr. S was being held captive that Thursday? You don’t say. Please do go on.
My question to anyone with half a brain is asking what is Wallace saying about his employer’s itinerary for Thursday, May 14th.
Since you have so much pertinent information regarding this case, Tim, please tell me: Did Jordan Wallace attend the funeral for Savvas, Amy, and Philip Savopoulos?
I anxiously await your answer.
Treya, since this is what you wrote
Another thing I wonder is why wasn’t Savvas at the martial arts center on Thursday? The next day was the grand opening.
That is what Tim replied to.
If you are asking why Wallace wasn’t at the center, he was.
I don’t know, as I wasn’t there myself and haven’t heard that he was,
But I also think it is ludicrous to think that the gofer who’s worked for the CEO for a mere month would have the audacity to ask the CEO what he would be doing/going the next day.
Jana, you wrote: “For instance, why would JW have called the police or need an “excuse for not having told anyone about his employer’s strange and dangerous predicament” ?
Hmmm let me list one reason: Contractors who worked on the Savopoulos garage (it was being recently expanded to accomodate the Mosler) said that the garage door COULD not be opened from the outside. That the only access was to GO THROUGH the Kitchen and access a locked door with a remote combination.
So, lets begin there….Why would Mr. Savopoulos go to the trouble of letting JW into his house (if he truly couldn’t meet him in person) and giving him a key/combination to the remote entry, through the kitchen, to make a cash drop? Unless JW could produce a KEY to the home, his story isn’t believable!
Most people when dropping off parcels/bags/stuff to people’s home (if they aren’t there), know of a secret hiding place or they might wedge it between a bush or even leave it in a mailbox (which, by the way, is a Federal offense).
Futhermore, $40,000 is a lot of cash (and JW did take a peek and knew of its contents!) Instead of keeping the transaction on the downlow, he takes a picture and sends it out to “others”. Wouldn’t these others want to know where he got that kind of dough and MAYBE go after some for themselves? Especially if they knew WHO JW worked for!!!!!
A reasonable person WOULD question why they are being the ” cash mule”? Most people would want a chain-of-custody transaction, whereby, they would get a signature/text from Mr. Savopoulos STATING that he received the money! Otherwise, the transaction ends with JW and he is on the hook for its safekeeping!
Clue Bird,
Let me see if I can parse through your answer to focus on the specific point I raised regarding why JW wouldn’t have felt the need to notify police or higher ups. First, JW was already dealing with a “higher up” in the accountant. No go-for, low level employee would question the CEO of a company and his accountant conducting a transaction. That just wouldn’t be acceptable. And none of his business. Further most small businesses like this are often very casual and sometimes careless in how they conduct aspects of the business. It isn’t the worth of the company but the size that abets this attitude.
Second, and I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree, $40,000 cash is really not that much money for people with real assets. Again, not knowing what the money was for (whether for something legitimate or something illegal) who would be so bold as to ask? Or to insist on a receipt from your boss? And who thinks a wealthy man would be paying such a paltry sum for ransom? With a car worth almost a million dollars in the garage? In fact, JW was impressed enough with the amount, at least on a superficial level, because he sent a picture and text about it to his girlfriend. Now why would a person involved in a serious crime be providing photographic proof via easily accessed texting? Apart from his apparent characteristic for bragging about material things, one could speculate that this was JW’s amateurish way of documenting this.
I don’t think we know enough about possible entries to the garage to know what the reality was of accessing it. But that’s a good point to further explore.
Do we know what JW knew the whereabouts of SS? Do we know if he knew he was home? Or are we still speculating about that.
Interesting points though, Clue Bird.
It was first reported that Savvas wanted the money to use at an upcoming auction. He wanted to buy some items for his recently opened state-of-the art dojo/martial arts center.
Savvas started making calls to his account/employees at AIW around 7 a.m., before the banks opened.
Why he couldn’t go himself, has not be established as far as I know. My ASSUMPTION is that he was needed to stay with his son who was still convalescing from his recent go-kart accident, (11 days prior). Little Philip was said to have sustained sprained knees and a concussion. REST is the most prescribed treatment for a concussion, allowing the brain to recover. Generally, this means avoiding general physical exertion and LIMITING activities that require thinking and mental concentration, such as playing video games; watching TV; school work; reading; texting; or using a computer. ALL activities that would be difficult to PREVENT a 10 year old from doing unless a parent/sitter was making sure, he didn’t!
Now, if THIS was the reason that Mr. Savopoulos was unable to go himself, most people (including grandparents/workers/accountants) wouldn’t question him! Futhermore, answering a door for a couple of minutes WOULD NOT have put Philip in any danger.
Remember, that the longstanding maid (an employee of 20 years) was TEXTED and asked to stay home that day, which in itself is very weird and suspicious. **The reason** for Savvas not getting the money himself, was one VARIABLE that the assailants couldn’t really control, because it had to be BELIEVABLE to the people who gathered it, and to possibly to the grandfather, who currently is re-running AIW!
I have dealt with large sums of cash (in my college days) when I worked at a grocery store, before we became a cashless society! I was younger than JW, and I instinctively knew to count it as fast as I could, bundle it, and drop it in the safe.
Today, most people don’t carry cash! Instead, they pay with a cashier’s check or with a credit card to EARN extra points, which EQUAL cash! Most merchants have a Square Register on their phone, to take payments! I can’t imagine an auction not accepting a credit card or having a mobile register.
So, If I were Mr. Savpoulos’ employee, I would not have unzipped the red bag, or even peeked inside the manila envelope! Why? It is NONE OF my business and I would be afraid that my fingerprints would get on it, should I handle it!!!! This is what loyal, trustworthy employees do!
Thanks for your comments Clue Bird, although I found some of them a little hard to follow. And I think Jana made some pretty astute observations.
To begin, you mention “Furthermore, answering the door for a couple minutes would not have put Phillip in any danger”. That’s purely subjective, but also assumes Wallace et al had knowledge of the text to the other maid, which they didn’t. Even if I did know that SS was home caring for his sick kid, it wouldn’t be on me as his gofer to question why he couldn’t go to the bank himself.
I’m wondering if Wallace drove his BMW to Chantilly or another car. His car was located a block from the house on that Thursday. Did he drive up in his BMW and then hang around with the other people gathered to watch and then go home without his car? Or was it there the whole time, and he never left with it after dropping the 40k? Does anyone have any clarity on that?
Also curious about Vera. She typically worked until 3 pm each day, I believe I read, and what the other maid said. Her husband dropped her off each morning and presumably picked her up again in the afternoon (she didn’t drive). Why wasn’t he there at 3 pm that Wednesday afternoon to pick her up? And why did he not show up to the house until Thursday morning, banging aggressively on the doors and peeking in the windows, “feeling” the presence of someone on the other side of the door. Didn’t he wonder why she wasn’t coming home that Wednesday evening? I cannot imagine that he wouldn’t have been beside himself wondering what was up.
And what ever became of the strange “door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman” we heard about in those early days? Who was that, and what connection is there?
The cash was dropped off, then the Porsche was last seen at the house by neighbors around 10:30. The fire was reported at 1:24, suggesting that it was set only minutes before, as it wouldn’t take long for a neighbor or passerby to spot smoke and flames. Thus, someone left around 1 pm and set the fire before they left. How did they escape?
I never heard that Ms. Figueroa’s husband drove her to work. Even without a car, it’s very easy to take Metro from Silver Spring to Woodley Park or Dupont Circle metro stations, from either there are a variety of buses that pass within 1-2 blocks of the Savopoulos mansion. I did hear about the vacuum salesman but no follow up info. That does sound extremely strange since it’s 2015 and not 1950. I’d just like to point out the torture and murder of Philip. What would be the reason? It was already established Wednesday evening that the 40K was on its way. Why did the torture continue? Why would Philip have to be murdered? He did not know Wint. He wasn’t born when Wint was an employee at AIW. From the beginning, my husband and I believed that the person who murdered Philip knew him, and could be identified by him. Our other thought on why Ms. Figueroa did not call her husband herself, is because she was the first victim. She was murdered Wednesday afternoon/evening.
Treya-
It was reported Mrs Figueroa was the only one of the 4 victims who was possibly still alive when firefighters entered the second floor bedroom where she was found bludgeoned and stabbed along with Mr and Mrs Savopoulos who were obviously gone.
And, what happened to Philip is completely unfathomable. So, Mrs Figueroa was rushed to the nearest ER where she was declared deceased.
There are reports about the VM sent by Savvas Savopoulos to Mr Figueroa that he received the messages about his wife going to the hospital with Amy and spending the night at the mansion on the day before the residential arson occurred – which may have been before 3pm. Either way, this is a good question since it lends valuable data to the timeline.
It must have really confused Mr Figueroa because his wife did not speak English very well and he wanted to speak with her himself and his attempts were thwarted and he felt drained and frustrated. He may have spoken to N. Guitterez the day of the murders and asked her what information she may have known about it? If so, it would be interesting to know exactly what she told him?
The next morning, he rang the bell and knocked several times on the front door and could not gain access and went around to the rear entrance of the mansion. It seems as though he could possibly have noticed the strange boot print on the back door when he checked the perimeter?? If so, I cannot imagine what he might have gone through his mind at that point? But, he told LE he felt someone was definitely inside…then he suddenly received another message from SS about his wife which made no sense whatsoever as he only wanted to see and speak to his wife.
This is not the forum to second guess a family member’s thought process or the woulda, coulda, shouldas, as it is inappropriate and careless to do so. Senseless tragedies can bring about a sense of guilt which is a futile thought process and will not allow much needed emotional closure which takes a long enough time to work on the healing process.
First you find an almost impossible way forgive those who took away what you love most, just to be able to move forward.
That is the hardest part. But… still, you never forget. And, that is the other hardest part.
Those parties responsible need to be held fully accountable to the highest degree of the law for perpetuating such vile evil and do not deserve any special breaks. And, if that means bringing on federal charges and capital punishment, I personally believe this would only be fair in terms of the heinous nature of these criminal offenses.
Also, re the garage access: The surviving housekeeper has gone on record as saying that the family wasn’t all that security conscious, that the alarm system was not often used, the garage door left open during the day or when the dog was being walked, etc. Not sure if this whole electronic keypad notion is even relevant.
Tim, the following article gives some more facts for the timeline.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3092130/Husband-murdered-maid-reveals-knocked-door-DC-murder-mansion-suspect-inside-left-receiving-bizarre-cell-phone-call-inside-saying-wife-out.html
Timeline (based on facts)
Maid # 1 Gutierrez said she believes someone was in the house with the family before 3pm on 13 May when Figueroa maid#2 normally would have left for the day.
Savvas was called home around 5 p.m. It was a big day for him because it was opening day of his martial arts/dojo center. Gutierrez Maid #1 had helped him get things ready for opening day.
8:30 p.m. Wallace text’s Savvas a message saying “I got your message, I’ll call you when I get the package.” Lie# 1 for Wallace initially said he that he was called on Thursday morning to deliver the package. It wasn’t until Police examined his cell phone and found this message, that his story change!
9:00 p.m. Two pizzas were ordered/delivered to the home and left outside the door.
(proves Assailants were in the house then)
There was a stark contrast, Gutierrez said, between Savvas Savopoulos’s mood when he left the martial arts studio and the flustered-sounding voicemail he left for her at 9.30 that night. While he had said earlier that his wife was going out that night, he said in the voicemail that she was sick in bed. He said Figueroa was staying overnight. He also said Figueroa’s cellphone was dead and the family didn’t have a charger for it.
Figueroa’s husband may have called Gutierrez, or she may have called him telling him that Vera was spending the night, due to Amy being sick. Both he and Gutierrez, might not think this was an odd request (of having Vera spend the night), to help watch over little Philip since he recently suffered a concussion and probably needed constant watching.
The husband continues to call his wife, gets her voicemail, becomes worried (when no one from the house) responds to his calls. So he goes to the home, early Thursday morning.
‘I was knocking and knocking and ringing the bell, and I just had a feeling somebody was inside,’ Alfaro tearfully told ABC affiliate WJLA-TV.
‘I saw the two cars in the garage, the Porsche was on the street,’ he explained.
And when he went round to a back window, Savvas Savopoulos called him: ‘He said “I’m so sorry I meant to call you, Vera asked me to call you, she had to stay with my wife because she was feeling bad and she has to go to the hospital and asked Vera to go with her, I will call you when she is back.”
The article doesn’t say how the husband (Alfaro) saw the cars parked in the garage. The garage door could have been up, or he could have looked in the windows, if the garage has windows.
Where Wallace went for 1.5 hours (after getting the money) is anyone’s guess. He may have stayed away because the neighborhood would have been busy then. People leaving for work, workers/coming to other homes. He also might have saw Mr. Alfaro banging on the front door, walking around the place.
Because Amy’s car was parked on the street, Wallace easily could have left in her car. (Witnesses saw the car hurriedly speeding away at 10:30 a.m.) Nate’s article said that Wallace was NEAR the Martial Art’s studio (at a Hardware Store) from 11:30 – 12:00 p.m., with cell phone pings still in Chantilly, VA until 1:34 p.m.
Savvas called Wallace at 11:54 a.m on Thursday, May 14, but the call was not answered, records show.
The fire was discovered about 1:15 p.m., and police say Wallace was in Chantilly at the time. He learned about the fire from someone at American Iron Works, and he texted Amy and Savvas Savopoulos several times as he drove to their home.
“Hey ms Amy are you ok, if so you need to get home I got a call that your house is on fire,” police records say he wrote.
Funny how Wallace heard about the fire 19 minutes after it happened (1:34, his phone last pinged in Chantilly, for he was driving back to the family home). How did the informant tell him about the fire? Text vs calling? (Savvas called Wallace at 11:54 a.m.) Why did Wallace begin texting Savvas & Amy, (not calling), when he was driving?????
How did Wince and the “others” get away? My guess is that they put on the racing vests (some were found in the burnt-out Porsche) and pretended to be landscape-construction workers; movers; etc. The BIG BOX truck that Wint’s brother was caught driving (probably his work vehicle) could have easily been parked close by for Wint/accomplice(s) to hop in.
http://wtop.com/dc/2015/05/investigation-continues-into-killing-of-family-in-d-c/ Facts about the “construction vests”.
Mention of Nate Thayer’s collected investigative data is cited as a source in the following link which includes two unsealed affidavits:
http://heavy.com/news/2015/06/jordan-wallace-savopoulos-assistant-suspect-cell-phone-records-court-documents-money-race-car-driver-text-friend-picture-photos-washington-dc-quadruple-murder/
Hope this offers some substantive information on the timeline which is still disconnected at this point in time.
Also SS would not have invited JW into a dangerous situation, look how he asked the other maid not to come to work that day. Likely for her own safety. Would he knowingly bring JW into that situation? Not likely. Wallace was def in on it and I suspect his bmw was a block away so he could drive the Porsche one last time before torching it. Problem is cops got to his car before he did. Thank God
Sleuth:
The video surveillance of the person running from the church parking lot of the burning Porsche looked like the same lean and lanky body type of Jordan Wallace, imo.
There is no doubt, at this point, to my thinking… Jordan Wallace and Daron Wint worked together to extort from the Saavas Savopoulos along with other accomplices, such as Wint’s brother, who assisted Wint in the get away box truck and Chevy Cruze.
I am of the opinion, throw away burner phones were used for the accomplices to communicate.
As you astutely brought up in a previous post, there would be no reason for Saavas to have contacted the regular housekeeper to not come over to the mansion – but, not also warn Jordan Wallace.
I wonder when the State Attorney General is going to unseal additional affidavits?? The perpetrators may in under sealed protective custody since no one seems to be able to find any of them, but a law enforcement statement said they know where Jordan Wallace is at all times. If his GF is in any way, shape or form involved in the ransom plot, she may need to turn against JW to save herself from being an accessory…. IF she had any foreknowledge or aided and abetted in the commission of a heinous capital crime. Just the very fact JW sent her pics of the money and her responses is very telling indeed as to her potential level of culpability – otherwise, her BF really threw her under the bus and she should break off further unsupervised communications with him for her own self-preservation, jmo.
I wonder if the Porsche had a GPS or LoJack tracking device. I had no idea that the Porsche was missing for six hours. JW is in deep doo doo if he thinks for one second that LE are not pulling and reviewing ALL footage in the neighborhood and the route from Savopoulos house to the church parking lot where the car was found. The Vice President of the United States lives doors away. You would think that there are cameras and satellite views LE will be looking at. Also, to anyone who has the means to have home security cameras, there is a way to have all footage automatically uploaded the iCloud. Thats how investigstors caught that Alice Trickleman (sp?)
Who served up a mortal dose of heroin to a Goog le executive in Santa Cruz. It would have recorded the invasion and initial insolence and demand for money. Lastly, ordinary home invasions don’t normally end with the death of one-let alone four innocent people. The killers murdered those poor people because they were recognized and known by the family. The thing that makes me most sad is that family died for no reason. Mr. S would’ve likely given those barbarians all the cars, all the jewelry, any and all cash or valuables. Would it have saved their lives? Probably not because the killers were clearly KNOWN to the family. May God grant the Savopoulos family rest and peace. The perpetrator s of this crime are not human. They are demons disguised as humans.
This case has haunted me from day one. There are so many red flags: for instance…
Wallaces’ mother worked at a church. At the time of the murders she had not been to work in over week. Why???
The Porsche was found in the parking lot of a church… Has the mother returned to work at the church? Wallace texted his girlfriend a pic of the money… He stated there was “40”, yet the picture he texted his girlfriend only showed two bundles of cash, when there had been four. The two bundles shown in the picture were clearly his half, or rather an even split of twenty thousand dollars.
What has haunted me the most was hearing Saavas message to the other housekeeper saying Amy wasn’t feeling well. ABC News played the actual voicemail message and while Saavas is leaving that message you can hear someone (sounds like little Phillip) screaming in terror and in pain.
I hope Wallace and Wint and the others are tried and convicted and put away forever in a Supermax prison where they never see the light of day. They killed four innocent people for 40K they will never get to spend. And I guarantee you Wallace helped plan and carry out the crime. May he and the other sociopaths rot in hell. The nation sees them for what they are… Brutal, sadistic murderers who repaid a mans kindness and trust with psychopathic and evil betrayal.
Some comments/observations from others’ posts:
I also believe that this ordeal started long before the 6 pm time suggested by MPD, and feel that the perp(s) gained entry before Vera was to leave for the day.
Maid #2 (Gutierrez) never received her voicemail from SS until Thursday morning, so that means Vera’s husband didn’t know what happened until Thursday when he went to the house and got called by SS. Further, Maid 2 said that Maid 1 (Vera) NEVER stayed overnight, that neither of them did.
Opening day at the martial arts center was to have been on that Friday, and it was reported that perhaps was the reason for the 40k.
From what I’ve read and gathered, the garage door was open. Maid 2 has said that it frequently was.
Tim, I also read that neither of the maids ever stayed the night, until Vera did on the 13th. Perhaps, a voice/text message was left on Maid #1’s husband’s phone, that she wouldn’t be coming home/didn’t need picked up that night. Whoever first gained entry, timed it when the family’s two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers were not in the house.
I stand corrected about opening day being Friday, not Wednesday. I found an article that said “According to a police source and Gutierrez, the employee says Savopoulos was going to use the cash at an auction for the martial arts center he planned to open the next day in Chantilly, Virginia.”
Which gives pause, in and of itself…..Wouldn’t Wallace wonder if Savvas ever attended the auction? If Wallace, was really working at the Martial Arts Center, why didn’t he answer Savvas 11:54 a.m. call? I wonder if the AIW employee who allegedly informed Wallace of the fire has come forth and collaborated his story? If not, then Wallace has a lot of explaining to do!!! Most people do not know what happens one mile from their work (unless they hear sirens/watch late breaking news), let alone 20-30 miles away!
Regarding the garage door…..Maybe it was left open during the day, because I did read where the neighborhood pays extra for their own security patrol.
Does anyone know when the failed wire transfers began?
Clue Bird:
I saw something on Nate’s threads about the Washington Post printing something multiple times about failed wire transfers, but I believe the poster may know something we are not privy to (or is in error) since it was not ever published by the WP. Although, this may turn out to be factual, I never read confirmation of attempted failed wire transfers by any news sources.
BUT, this would be the proverbial smoking gun and effectively take this case from a civil matter to the federal level and put capital punishment back on the table!
There is a lot supposition, confusion and conjecture about what happened; however, we just do not know enough to figure out the timeline since law enforcement is withholding the sealed affidavits. Probably, since so many varied LE agencies are involved with this ransom plot investigation.
Both families deserve our heartfelt concern and prayers during this heartbreaking time. Decades ago, our own family lost our own beloved 10-year old boy in a much publicized murder case involving a pedophile who received the death penalty. It ended up putting our grandfather in an early grave and the family repercussions over what happened have been generational.
Btw…. outstanding job finding so many human interest stories about the Savopoulos family and for your thoughtful insights, Clue Bird! 🙂
Oh, Commenter, I can see why this story would resonate with you because of the shared commonalities with this story and yours: The ages of the young children involved; highly publicized cases; and the terrible outcomes.
My heartfelt sympathy for your’s/your family’s loss, as well as the four victim’s families/friends/neighbors/employees in this story.
This story gripped me from the beginning due to it senseless acts of barbarism and the fact it occurred in our nation’s capital city, a place where law and justice should prevail.
You are right about not knowing all details to make an educated guess to how this case will turn out! Many things are still unknown to the public such as:
1. The percentage of cash recovered from Wint’s capture
2. Testimony from AIW employees that will either support/refute Wallace’s
statements
3. Physical evidence
4. Amount of time Wallace’s BMW was parked (1 block away) from the family home,
after the money drop. Was it hours versus minutes?
5. Financial transactions from the Savopoulos’ bank accounts to other bank accounts
In the meanwhile, all we can do is pray that the wheels of justice will speed up and
that all the perpetrators/accomplices will be brought to trial!
Thank you for your kind words about my insights and for thanking me for the human interest stories about the Savopoulos & Figueroa families that I provided.
I’m not so sure that Wallace was involved, or at least I’m open to giving him the benefit of the doubt for the moment. It’s been nearly 4 weeks now and I have to think that if he was a suspect – that if there was enough evidence against him – he’s be in custody by now. But perhaps not.
The “lean, lanky body” that Commenter referenced is too much of a reach, IMO. Heck, that description fits literally thousands of individuals in this area, and that video was so grainy and unclear that there’s no way to draw the conclusion that it was indeed Wallace.
I only read on here about wire transfers and have not seen that in any published reports. I agree that would be damning, if indeed true. The person who mentioned it here never responded back when asked to provide links to that info.
The registration in the backpack could’ve been there legitimately, or at the very least, a registration isn’t worth much. There’s no way he could’ve gotten the title swapped by just having that piece of paper. Perhaps SS had asked him to visit the DMV to renew plates and registration, since he was hired to do odd jobs anyhow. I’m just not willing to crucify the guy based on that info.
Vera’s husband didn’t make any mention that he had contact with his wife on Wednesday evening when he was interviewed on television, and that seems like it would be a pertinent piece that would’ve come up. Was he there at 3 pm Wednesday to pick her up and she was a no-show, or did she usually get home a different way, or what?
I certainly agree that this was heinous, and likely things escalated and got worse as the night progressed, leading the perp(s) to hack up the bodies (“butcher” was the word that one source used) like they did. But I also believe there’s so much more to this case that any of us know about, but the MPD does and is not letting on just yet.
Dear Tim,
I did respond about the wire transfers.
BTW, sometimes it takes LE years to arrest someone.
Dear Tim,
You wrote:
‘I’m not so sure that Wallace was involved, or at least I’m open to giving him the benefit of the doubt for the moment. It’s been nearly 4 weeks now and I have to think that if he was a suspect – that if there was enough evidence against him – he’s be in custody by now. But perhaps not.’
My guess is LE is giving Mr. Wallace a very long rope… to hang himself with. Figuratively speaking. The longer he is out, the more he reads about the evidence from unsealed warrants and affidavits, he will surely crumble under the presurre. And do something stupid. Investigators are watching him like a hawk. And let me tell you why he has exhausted the goodwill and benefit of the doubt of many:
1) He lied to investigators, not once but multiple times. Being questioned about conversations and timeline of events hours after such a heinous event would surely be clearly embedded in his brain. He lied about NUMEROUS things, how he got the money, where he got the money, when he got the money, as well as the all too important issue of when and how SS first instructed him to do so.
2) SS was very protective of Maid #2 and also Vera’s husband. He went out of his way to ensure that they would not come to the house or be alerted that there was an issue going on at home. Yet he reaches out to a new employee of three weeks and literally invites him onto the property and into a crime scene? If Mr. S were so callous ( which he was not) would it not have made sense to keep the matter of an emergency need for $40K in a hurry to a trusted accountant or longterm employee??
3) JW texted his rocket scientist girlfriend pictures of the ransom/ extortion funds which were by all accounts $40K – placed in FOUR BUNDLES… each bundle equaling $10K. The pic he sent his girlfriend only showed TWO BUNDLES/ $20K.!!
Where were the other two bundles or rather the other $20K? JW incriminated himself by texting that photo which showed his half of the crime.
4) Multiple witnesses reported seeing a black man with short well- groomed hair driving erratically from the crime scene wearing a lime green vest. Wint has dreadlocks.
5) JW’s BMW was found one block away from the crime scene? Why? Was he out running errands for Mr.S that morning? How did that come about if Mr.S was incapacitated? And why, if you were simply out doing errands (which was his job!), WHY, would he feel the need to park his BMW a block AWAY from the Savopoulos home? If all was kosher, why the need to hide the vehicle? And other than the money drop, which errands did Mr.S instruct him to do that fateful day that would have warranted JW driving the Porsche rather than his own car?
6) Inside JW vehicle was found the registration of the Mosler. As far as I can tell, these days you can register your car by mail or online. Was the registration on the Mosler due to expire? What reason could he possibly have for having that documentation in his backpack on the day of the murders?
7) Authorities also found in his backpack JW passport. Had he booked a trip recently? To a foreign country? Really? JW was going on vacation three weeks after being hired on his ” dream job”.
Connect the dots people.
Sleuth:
Jordan Wallace is most certainly directly involved with Damon Wint. As you stated, the timeline has notable gaps, but let’s do connect the dots…….
Imo, JW must be under protective custody. I read his father was employed in law enforcement. LE stated they know where he is at all times. How? Did they install a GPS microchip in his body??
I think JW is under lock and key somewhere since he must be still answering many questions of investigators.
Insofar, as W2 (Ashley Bartlett), the go-cart race track where she is employed has been instructed by the owner not to speak to media offering any details about Jordan Wallace or Ashley Bartlett. This makes only good sense, as this is still an ongoing investigation.
Also, another poster inquired about the Wallace residence where Jordan lived with his mother who had not returned to work at her church job the week after the mansion murders. The residence is completely empty and currently for sale. The Wallace home was shown on Inside Edition by the same reporter who interviewed Nate Thayer on the program.
I am a little surprised the State Attorney General has given the press only two unsealed affidavits. Very little about this case has been made public after the initial flurry of media frenzy and there are a lot of unanswered questions. The only real pivotal point to break this case wide open was the neighborhood connection of Damon Wint and Jordan Wallace by Nate Thayer. This is where the investigators must be delving despite the hardware store alibi. Who drove him to Chantilly VA anyway?? Why didn’t he pick up his phone when Savvas called him?? There must be CCTV videos on other homes and businesses in the area to have recorded something more.
LE knows a lot more than they are willing to share with the public. And, they’re just not saying much more about it, so far.
The public has some general questions and the people of Washington D.C. deserve some constructive answers, after 3 weeks of wondering what is going on with all of the alleged accomplices and/or suspects still not in custody.
Good thread, Sleuth.
Good post Sleuth; some very good points you made. And I was saying as early as two weeks ago that JW was likely involved, when he was first identified by the local Fox station. But I’m still wanting to plan devil’s advocate on some points.
For #1, imagine for a moment that he was NOT involved in any way, but he was being questioned by the police. I can imagine he’s be upset, confused and not thinking clearly , especially being that he had just been to the house earlier.
#2 and #3, good points; hard to refute. (But it’s late and I think better early in the morning!)
#6: Wasn’t that registration expired in 2013? If so, then it wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.
#7: I carry my passport in my backpack too; it’s there right now and has been for weeks. I realize that that’s one more point in conjunction with the others, but by itself, is not damning enough, IMO.
Sleuth, Agree with your post. connecting the dots is a bit confusing at this point but many are easy and quite obvious. Hopefully soon, more arrests will be made. I’m usually against the death penalty but in this case, I hope they can make an exception.
While I have strong suspicions that JW is directly involved in the crime based on information that has been released, I think it is appropriate that very little has been said about him by LE to the media. LE released only enough information to possibly incite other witnesses to come forth with additional information about him. Thus far, it seems the case against JW is entirely circumstantial and he probably will not be arrested and charged until there is irrefutable evidence or witness testimony to directly link him to the crime. Consider it a lesson learned from Richard Jewell and the Atlanta bombings.
The Mosler vehicle registration was found in Jordan Wallace’s backpack according to the search warrant affidavit. Wondering…. so, where is the Mosler title document?? The safe in the home was opened which means it has to be somewhere!
There is a method to apply for recovery of a lost motor vehicle title from the State and could be why Wallace had stolen the vehicle registration for the Mosler which was recovered from the search warrant inside his personal BMW. A vehicle title can be forged with a new owner’s name on it. Many used car dealers have been put out of business performing this surreptitious activity which (btw) is closely monitored and flagged, most often by State Police.
I conjecture the bizarre murder plot was not only a ways and means to steal property, extort ca$h and control of the $700K Mosler, including several other luxury vehicles…. but, due to the senseless and gruesome cold-blooded manner of the quadruple homicides happened, revenge and jealousy were definitely involved…. which means Savvas Savopoulos knew the assailants.
This crime victimizing a family and their housekeeper is so cruel and disturbing the evildoers must be harshly punished to the full extent of the law. Hoping it is moved from civil to federal and capital punishment is put back on the table, since Washington, D.C. abolished the death penalty back in the early 1970’s.
May God bless both grief-stricken families affected by this heinous act!
At first I was neutral about Wallace’s involvement, until Nate posted the information about the Mosler’s vehicle registration being found in Wallace’s BMW. The Title may not have been given yet (if for some reason Savvas hadn’t paid it off). That’s how it works in my state. The bank holds the title to the car, until the loan is paid off. The registration could have been stored in the glove box in the event Savvas was ever pulled over for a traffic violation or during transport to a track.
I became more and more suspicious of Wallace, when his stories about how the cash was given to him changed; flashing the cash to his girlfriend & others; and his connection to Wint.
I agree with you Commenter, in that the plot was for a bigger haul! The failed wire transfers support this! I also think that Savvas was purposely targeted (Wallace cozied up to him, to gain trust/access) until the right opportunity presented itself! That opportunity was when Savvas was gone (at his Martial Arts Center) readying it for the Grand Opening. The child/women would be taken down first, until Savvas arrived home, unaware, unprepared for what awaited him.
Because English is the primary language of Guyana (the birth place of Wint), his brother could have been controlling the phones, while Wint was controlling the captives.
Perhaps, Wallace’s only part in this, was providing the information to the thugs and “playing the part of the trusty assistant!” Unless there is some physical evidence that can link Wallace directly to the crime scene, I don’t see Wallace’s involvement being proven.
You have to remember, Wallace and Wint have been neighbors for many years. They must know one another. It’s too strange a coincidence. Besides, how would Wint have known to request 40K?
I thought that the only link that Nate found between Wint & Wallace is that their respective families (Wallace’s Dad/Wint’s parents) have lived in the same apartment complex, vicinity during the last decade. From what I have read about Wallace and his Mom, their last residence (where he attended High School) was in Annapolis.
Again, I don’t know the D.C. area at all, so where this is in vicinity to the apartment complex, I haven’t a clue.
I think Wallace master minded the robbery/shakedown/possibly murders by providing Wint with valuable information of the family’s schedule; their daily routines; and the easiest way in. Proving it might be difficult, if Wallace’s only verifiable role was being the “informant.” I hope that the evidence from the Porsche torching connects him to the crime!
C B:
We already have ascertained JW is connected with Wint and the scrutiny as to his whereabouts and actions are highly dubious, at best.
Therefore, the term ‘informant’ has a whole different connotation from the activities of a true accomplice.
Clearly, the Attorney General must agree or they would not have seized Wallace’s BMW and even removed the hand rests for forensic analysis.
Jordan Wallace is going to be on the hook for his participation in the commission of this crime… there is no doubt in my mind.
His final days of freedom spent not behind bars are numbered.
Commenter, Wallace did slip up (show his imaturity) when he took a picture of the money and sent a pic of it to his GF and “others”. It would be interesting to know who those “others” are! My comment about being an “informant” was merely to suggest that the circumstances surrounding the crime, point back to Wallace as one of the few people who would know that Savvas was planning on working at the Martial Arts Center until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
When making a conviction jurors are instructed to look at the evidence that “is beyond a reasonable doubt.” All we know right now is that Wallace was the cash mule, dropped off the cash, and that it got into the hands of Wint. He has a solid alibi, and he wasn’t at the scene of the crime when the murders took place. So unless more evidence presents itself, how can Wallce be charged as “an assessory to the crime?” Wint and his fellow thug(s) didn’t want anyone else to enter the home, which is why all the texts/voice messages went out, telling the KNOWN daily visitors to stay away. The Pizza deliveryman said that we he delivered the pizza, somewhere around 9 p.m., that all of the LIGHTS of the Mansion were turned off, except for the porch light.
Interestingly, I read where only one of the two pizza’s was eaten. The other one wasn’t.
Thank you Commentator and Tim for the kind words. Another thought..
if my boyfriend texted me pictures of bundles of cash equaling $40k ( actually $20 k)
The first question out of my mouth would be, “where did you get all that money?”
The second would be, “whose money is that?”
Ashley Barnett seems rather nonplussed about her recently fired boyfriend being in possession of such a large amount of cash.
I hope LE are looking at all texts between the two. my gut says she knew more than she is probably saying…but like all dirty things..it will all come out in the wash and Ms. Barnett will find herself an accomplice to Capital 1 murder. Among other things
US News & World Report
June 8, 2015
Here is an interesting article which turned up on 6/8/15 concerning possible, but perhaps, not probable federal charges. Personally, I cannot see how this level of quadruple homicide ruthlessness would not be fully deserving of capital punishment.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/06/08/mansion-murders-suspect-can-get-death-penalty-if-case-goes-federal
The two murderous home invaders in the Connecticut torture case both received the death penalty.
So, it stands to reason, the mastermind of the Savopoulous ransom plot, the killer or killers and all willing participants should all be tried on the federal level.
According to the article, it would only take a short walk down the hallways of the US Federal Court Building in Washington, D.C. for it to happen and it would still be the same Attorney General overseer whether it were a civil or federal jurisdiction.
Commentator,
Thanks for the information but out in all the news reports and articles I’ve been exposed to, I never heard or read any victim’s name as still being alive when first responders arrived on the crime scene. I only heard or read a “female” was found alive but later died at the hospital.
Then why would Ms. Figueroa not have made the calls to her husband herself? Maybe they thought she’d say something in Spanish to her husband that they would not understand?
The part of her not making the calls herself has nagged at me. Because it seems more suspicious that she not make the call herself.
Commentator wrote: This is not the forum to second guess a family member’s thought process or the woulda, coulda, shouldas, as it is inappropriate and careless to do so.
Dear Commentator, Just to let you know I never once attempted to second guess a family member’s “thought process”. I was trying to understand the strategy of the pieces of shit who held-against-their-will, tortured, stole from, and murdered a family and their housekeeper. Is that okay with you? Am I permitted to try to comprehend what these vile “beings” were doing and what they were trying to accomplish?
Weren’t you the one second guessing the reason(s) for why Wallace having the Mosler registration paperwork (even though expired) is important because of A, B, and C? And that Wallace could have been planning A, B, and C with the information from the expired registration? It’s difficult to know because there could be more than one “commentator” on this thread.
I don’t even know the Savopouloses, nor their housekeeper. And I feel a sense of loss and guilt about what happened to them.
And about wondering, surmising, creating hypotheses etc….these are all very same mental exercises law enforcement engages in. If more people took action instead of thinking “Oh this is weird…” perhaps they would have been saved from their sad ending.
Treya:
I was not even referring to YOUR opinions!
I was referencing about MY OWN thoughts when I expressed that comment!
This has been a civil forum and berating and abusive language is not acceptable.
Have a nice day!
– Commentator
No abusive language at all. Unless you think calling the pieces of shit who did this “abusive”? Really? Am I to call them sir, or men, or human-beings?
Very sorry that I misunderstood your comment. It’s difficult to “hear” third person online. Not sure what the point was of you writing all of that if it’s about yourself but I sincerely apologize.
What’s abusive are the ridiculous comments trying to convincingly explain why Jordan Wallace is innocent of any wrong doing.
Treya:
I was simply stating it was inappropriate to attempt an
extrapolation of logic or rationale for the regular housekeeper and the husband of the deceased thought process. Because, I found it to be counter-intuitive they had both informed LE they thought the entire situation seemed strange. And, if people get a “bad feeling” or think something is awry, generally, they will call 911 to check on the situation.
Yet, several clues were given and none were followed by a routine house check.
I personally did not want to sound hurtful towards the housekeeper’s husband since I am certain he is constantly beating himself up over it already since he was at the mansion Thursday morning looking for his wife.
I have no idea what the regular housekeeper’s emotions are regarding this devastation, other than a TV interview where she shrugged her shoulders and said she thanked God since it could have been her.
I found her attitude to be matter-of-fact without expected emotional hysteria. But, I did not want to judge her even though I do not know why she told investigators AND reporters she got a text from Jordan Wallace the money was dropped off. Now, her statement has been amended and I also found this of interest because it was officially stated her testimony would be taken in deposition and she suddenly stopped talking with media.
And, Treya, thank you so much for the sincere apology. Your insights bring an interesting dynamic into the mix of opinions.
This is the only open forum actually keeping up with this senseless crime where the posts maintain a level of intelligent debate thanks to Nate
Thayer taking time and his attention to researching this bizarre case.
Tim says
JUNE 10, 2015 AT 12:37 PM
I don’t know, as I wasn’t there myself and haven’t heard that he was,
But I also think it is ludicrous to think that the gofer who’s worked for the CEO for a mere month would have the audacity to ask the CEO what he would be doing/going the next day.
**********************************************************************************************
Really Tim? Guess what? You’re incorrect. Nothing “audacious” about it. Wallace would need to know his employer’s itinerary because that was part of his job requirement. Wallace was Savvas’ personal assistant and driver. He would have to know his plans for the day.
Also, domestic help frequently, if not always, has personal information on what the family is doing daily, weekly, monthly. Nothing “audacious” about knowing your employer’s daily, weekly, monthly plans. This means, (gasp!) even the housekeepers would know the family’s schedule and special plans.
What IS audacious if Wallace allowing himself to drive any and all of the Savopoulos’ vehicles. Did Savvas and Amy really know he was driving the Mosler, or just sitting in it like a 8 year old pretending to drive? Posting photos of himself on Facebook, Instagram etc….?Did they know about his bragging and showing off? Those are audacious actions. Asking your employer their schedule for the day or week is not. Especially when you’re their personal assistant and diver.
Oh and the other things which proves Wallace had oodles and oodles of audacity is his ridiculous text to Miss Amy, telling her about the fire and being “concerned” for her safety. And of course the fact he thought he could orchestrate this conspiracy and murder and get away with it. That’s truly depraved narcissistic psychopathic audacity.
Chatter wrote-
Treya, since this is what you wrote
Another thing I wonder is why wasn’t Savvas at the martial arts center on Thursday? The next day was the grand opening.
That is what Tim replied to.
If you are asking why Wallace wasn’t at the center, he was.
—————————————
Wow. Not sure if I’m going blind but I read that I specifically ask why wasn’t Savas at the soon-to-have-grand-opening-celebration martial arts center in Chantilly that Thursday?
MEANING: What is Wallace’s account of why his employer (Savvas), for whom he was personal assistant and driver, not at the martial arts center? What does Jordan Wallace say when asked, something like, “Savvas was really excited about his new martial arts center opening. Why wasn’t he there on Thursday preparing for its opening? After all, the grand opening celebration was to be the very next day.” Or “Jordan, after you dropped off the ransom money, what work tasks had Savvas asked you to complete for that work day? Had your daily work responsibilities for that day been altered due to the picking up and dropping off of the ransom money? Was there ever a ‘typical” Thursday work schedule? Are there tasks and responsibilities which you repeated weekly? If Savvas changed your work schedule for that day, did you ask if about it? Did you ask him why?”
We know Wallace was in Chantilly, VA alleging purchasing things for the martial arts center at a hardware store in Chantilly when the fire was reported, and Wallace alleges he was contacted by another American Iron Works employee about the fire at the Savopoulos mansion. From what I’ve both heard and read, LE HAS verified Wallace’s alibi of shopping at a hardware store in Chantilly. I don’t believe I heard any verification that Wallace physically visited the martial arts center that day but could be wrong. However, I do believe I heard the other housekeeper mention that she was working there on that Thursday, preparing for the grand opening.
Interesting point about JW being at a hardware store in Chantilly in the middle of his ‘workday’. What exactly was he buying? I can assure you detectives are all over ALL of the transactions at the store that day. Electronic or cash. Was he purchasing anything related to the crime or the cover-up? Me thinks…yes.
Perhaps a gas can?
No, Wallace wouldn’t be that dumb. After all, he is the son of a retired police officer!
My guess is window cleaner (it is comprised of mostly alcohol/ a little ammonia) to wipe the Porsche down (if he had planned on keeping it) and perhaps some glue; a screwdriver to pop off and affix a new VIN number to the car. Both items are so commonplace , that Wallace could say (if questioned) that he bought them for the Marital Arts Center.
How could he have ever kept it? That’s illogical. Selling it to a black market garage is more likely. They’d remove the vin number. Wallace would not have to worry about that.
I have heard of thieves going to a used car lot /big work parking lot, writing down the VIN#, before creating a new title with the VIN# on it. Then they go back to the lot and steal the car, and sell it to some un-suspecting buyer.
A twist on this, would be for Wallace to pop off the Vin# and re-attach it when the coast was clear, to sell it on the black market. It would be interesting to know if the plates were still on the Porsche? Someone already moved the car 30 miles from the scene, so don’t you think, they would go to some trouble to remove any forms of identifying it, especially if it hadn’t been torched?
Alright. These are the rules: Everybody gets to play in the sandbox and say whatever they want–as long as one plays nicely, is civil, polite, and respectful of others. No insults to other commentators expressing an opinion tolerated. Everyone understand? Good. Carry on, please……
Hi Nate; Treya, Sleuth, Commenter, Tim; Jana; Leise; all others.
I have addressed you all so I can attach my source documents to one post.
Many have speculated to if Wint versus Wallace did the killings. After finding Source Document #1, hereon referred to as SD#1, I believe it was Wint!
Wint has had over 30 brushes with the law, with the serious ones beginning in 2005. Keep in mind, that he moved to the US in 2000 (when he was 20 years old) worked at AIW from 2003-2005, and a former employee (a welder) said that Wint couldn’t get along with any of his co-workers. Another little tidbit from SD#5 said that “one of Wint’s relatives” also worked for and was fired from AIW!
SD#1 Profile of a violent killer
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2015/05/22/daron-wint-dc-quadruple-murder-suspect/27774899/
SD# 5 http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Daron-Wint-Suspect-in-Woodley-Park-Quadruple-Slaying-in-Custody-304665291.html Information showing that one of Daron’s relative’s too worked for AIW & Wint’s family home.
The “Big Box Truck” that was following Daron, the night of his capture has me curious. SD# 2
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3092208/Police-catch-prime-suspect-brutal-family-murder-near-home-address-Northeast-DC.html
SD# 2 really gives a close-up view of the truck. The words “Mobile Service Center Fleet Maintenance” USDOT 2068966 can be plainly seen! I did a little research on these types of trucks, and they are an on-road repair service trucks for vehicles that break down and need fixed/or scheduled maintenance. Inside these trucks are all kind of equipment to run computer diagnostics for all major engines (Cummins™, Caterpillar™, Detroit™): On-board parts room stocked to fleet specifications; Routine oil changes; Wet and dry Preventive Maintenance inspections (PMs); Tire and brake service;Engine and drive-train repairs; 24-hour emergency road services.
Possibly Wint or his brother (maybe both) works for this type of business and might have unlimited access to the truck. (Which is how they might have slipped in/out of the neighborhood, without being noticed)
Little Philip’s injuries were gruesome: SD#3
ttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3093358/CEO-wife-housekeeper-died-blunt-force-trauma-10-year-old-son-burned-death-court-documents-reveal-emerges-suspect-did-not-act-alone.html
The coroner determined that three of the victims – Mr and Mrs Savopoulos and Mrs Figueroa – died from ‘blunt force and sharp force trauma’, while Philip suffered from ‘thermal and sharp force injuries”, suggesting he was burned and stabbed to death. Could Wint, a welder have used a blow torch or another piece of equipment to exact his pain on little Philip? [The movie “Hostel” come to mind here]
SD# 3 reported that the bodies were doused with gasoline and set on fire with matches, for they found a box of matches at the top of the steps, with a few matches inside.
SD# 4 http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-say-cell-phones-stolen-from-slain-savopoulos-family/2015/06/03/13185622-0a11-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html shows that
the money was delivered at 10:26 a.m.
FOUR minutes LATER, Amy’s Porsche was seen speeding down Woodland Drive. I believe that Wallace was driving the Porsche, because it fits the timeline perfectly! He also knew where it would be normally parked, be familiar with the vehicle’s dashboard/ignition; and know how to drive it fast in broad daylight (without any family members beside him).
Another reason why I think that Wallace drove Amy’s car, is to give a false sense of “normalcy” that day.
The night before: SD# 3 states “When the deliveryman arrived, every light in the house was off, except for the one on the porch, he told authorities.
A blogger on this site, who lives close by to the Mansion, drives by the house daily and has observed that the garage has no windows. Which tells me that Vera’s Figueroa’s husband saw the two cars in the garage, because the garage door was up. The garage door remote is inside the house, so it would be easy to open the doors (to keep Wallace outside), playing his “part” and for fast departure.
Another CLUE that points to Wallace to being the driver the Porsche is where it was parked and because of the built/height of the grainy figure! When you see Wint’s built SD# 2 photo entitled: “A man believed to be Wint is pictured here being led away from the scene in handcuffs”, shows Wint in a hoodie, but his built is much larger! His shoulders are much broader and he looks to be more stockier (meatier) than Wallace.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3092208/Police-catch-prime-suspect-brutal-family-murder-near-home-address-Northeast-DC.html#ixzz3chPe1mVe
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The Porshe went missing for 6 hours before being found in the Church parking lot where Wallace’s mother worked. Should anyone had question its presence, ran the plates, Wallace’s mother could have easily said that it was her son who drives that car (if it was left there any length of time before it was torched). It might have also been the “meeting place” for Wallace & Wint’s interactions.
[The following is purely speculative, but I believe that Wint may have been a marijuana supplier to Wallace]. Most young men (African American’s especially) that I know, have interacted with, smoke weed.
And being that Wint is from Guyana, it fits his profile and a possible reason why the two may have stayed in contact. This fact is also portrayed in comedies (Tyler Perry’s Madea, come to mind).
I apologize for the length of this post, but I wanted to have one place to list everything that I recently ddiscovered. Also, I believe that foreign news outlets (The Daily Mail) do a better job of giving more ddetails. Maybe Nate can tell us why this is so? 🙂
Thanks for your thoughtful post Clue Bird, but I take issue with a few points you made.
First, I don’t agree that a box truck like that would “slip in/out of the neighborhood without being noticed”. Why would an on road repair service truck have any reason to be motoring through the Embassy Row neighborhood? It surely would’ve been noticed, I think.
I’ve always questioned what car Wallace drove to Chantilly and how long his BMW was parked a block away. That he has “short, well-groomed” hair like the person witnessed behind the wheel of the Porsche on New York Avenue is compelling indeed.
I recall reading that Wallace’s mother was not at work at her church job for a week after the crime, but I had not read anywhere that it was the same church where the Porsche was found. Can you provide a link to that connection?
And I think the Daily Mail is prone to sensationalizing a story more than some of our own media do (and they’re known for not being the most serious in journalism). I mean, to say that the box truck was filled with $10,000 cash?? That makes it sound as though bills were stuffed in the cargo area completely, when in reality, 10 grand in $100 bills would practically fit in the ashtray. That’s only two packs of 50 each, similar to a band of ones you might pick up at the bank.
And I’m not even sure what to quite make of your admittedly speculative remarks about young black men, pot-smoking and Guyanese nationals.
Clue Bird:
Thank you for all the diligent work finding news research and links!
Nice job gathering and compiling so much relevant materials in one post! 🙂
You’re welcome Commenter. Finding credible news sources, is like discovering another piece of the puzzle. Little pieces can add up to bigger ones! 🙂
Tim, I found a couple links that support my “Big Box Getaway Theory”. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mansion-Murder-NW-DC-Woodley-Four-Dead-Savopoulos-Housekeeper-304439421.html Look at the first video. There you will see where LE sent out a bloodhound to sniff out a possible trail of the assailant who set the Porsche on fire. NOTICE the “Construction” vests (Neon & Bright) that they wanted public to see, to possible identify any suspects milling around St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church that day.
Regarding Wallace’s Mother and St. Christopher’s…..I couldn’t find a cited source only that “she worked at a Church”. Perhaps it was a fellow blogger’s post that put the idea into my head of why her Church has never been named, and could it be another possible tie-in, since St. Christopher’s is adjacent to the Apartment Buildings where both the Wint & Wallace families once lived.
While I have never been to 3201 Woodland Avenue, I have seen a map of the area and it is very close to a major thorough-fair “Cleveland Avenue”. In fact 32nd Street NW feeds off from Woodland, into Cleveland, so it wouldn’t be a “big stretch” for Wint to have walked alongside the road, pretending to be on a road crew/ or with a landscaping company, until he got picked up. If I saw a man in construction vest walking down the street with/without a paper lawn/refuse bag, that is what I would think. Road crew/landscaper. Especially, amongst the blare of siren’s.
“Police have previously reported finding $10,000 in money orders in the truck and a stack of $100 bills stuffed into a side door. Authorities have said the denominations of the money are similar to the denominations used in the $40,000 payment” appeared in this Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-search-vehicles-used-by-suspect-others-after-savopoulos-killings/2015/06/05/befd3df0-0b96-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html The amount of money cited above that was recovered, may/may not be close to the $40,000 taken. It would be interesting to see what the % recovered was.
Regarding my remark about weed…..in my profession, THC is often tested, and my personal observation has been, that it often comes back positive in black men younger than 40!
C B:
I had read the pile of vests found in the garage were all green racing vests – not brightly colored yellow construction vests.
The amount of money recovered appears to be approximately $10K in cash and the rest in money orders. $1000 was spent on a cab from NYC back to D.C. There is no mention if it was $40K, but I doubt it since that was likely the split between Wallace and Wint, evidenced by the cell pic to W2, Ashley Bartlett, JW’s GF.
I wonder if it was an UBER driver and what he had to say about the drive with Wint…. perhaps, Wint was on the phone during the trip or might be able to lend some info on what went with Wint on in the taxi ride.
You have provided a lot of information which investigators have likely already figured out… they just do not want to gamble on trying their case in the court of public opinion and losing, as proven when child killer, Casey Anthony was exonerated by a jury who was too confused by defense posturing and could not agree to connect the dots smack gob in front of them.
Why in the world are we bringing in the Casey Anthony trial?
In fact, the jury in that case was quite smart and, in the face of incredible public pressure bordering on hysteria, saw the terrible prosecution for what it was – insufficient to convict. We don’t even have to get into the embarrassing faux forensic “experts” they used. If Anthony was actually guilty then you can lay her acquittal at the feet of the prosecution and no one else.
I agree with you that any details the taxi driver can provide could prove very informative.
As I noted previously I think JW’s text photo of the money cuts against his involvement. The fact that he only got half of the money in the photo seems almost irrelevant to me. I imagine it wasn’t a deeply thought out photo composure.
Thanks fro bringing over info on the vests.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cordova-High-Visibility-Lime-Green-Mesh-Safety-Vest-One-Size-Fits-All-V111W/202593535
For less than $6, Wint could have easily went to one of the 50 home depot stores in the D.C. area and bought one.
Yes, the marijuana connection is gratuitous…..just thinking how Wint/Wallace might have been/remained connected.
“Yes, the marijuana connection is gratuitous…..just thinking how Wint/Wallace might have been/remained connected.”
LOL! Creativity can be very useful, ClueBird.
I think I missed how the connection was established.
Tim says
JUNE 10, 2015 AT 7:44 PM
All good points, Tim.
I also caution anyone relying on The Daily Mail for accuracy. It’s very tabloid-ish and infamous for inaccuracy and sensationalism. They do have great pictures though – I’ll give them that.
I also think the marijuana speculation is too gratuitous.
Someone upthread stated as fact that there is a connection between JW and Wint and I am unaware that any such connection has been made. The addresses as a connection isn’t going to cut it. They may prove a lead to investigating further but on their own they aren’t proof of anything.
Lots of food for thought ClueBird, Sleuth and Others,
While I agree that on paper Wint seems the likely candidate for meting out violence and destruction. However, like the tragedy in the home to invasion of Dr. Petit in New England a few years ago. There were 2 perps in that conspiracy as well. We’ll never know the truth but 1 perp claims the other one had forced him to physically participate in the rape and murder. Like blood brothers to seal their sick fate.
I’ve read about this same dynamic in other cases where murderers worked in pairs. I believe it’s possible although Wint was the physical intimidator, and was probably the main perp inflicting the torture, I think it’s still highly likely that the second perp took part in the torture of at least 1 victim (I’d focus on Philip because from what I’ve heard reported on TV and read in print – he was the only one who was set on fire AND I recently read he was stabbed at least 50 times).
I don’t believe Wint’s heritage and/or skin color has anything to do with his depravity. I also don’t believe marijuana figures into this story. I think perhaps an undiagnosed, or unmedicated mental health condition exists with Wint. If he’d been selling pot, his previous landlord more at hand likely would have gladly reported Wint.
The same week as these murders, a wealthy elderly couple 12 miles from the Savopoulos mansion, in Rockville, MD were discovered murdered in their home by their neighbors 30-something year old son. Dude is white, living in an affluent DC suburb. He was arrested in Anchorage, Alaska on a cruise with his parents. Detectives found blood covered cash in this cowards wallet. He confessed immediately. He has a drug addiction, I think it’s cocaine or crack. Yes, white people are criminals who murder for money to travel, and of course buy drugs. In fact, statistics for pot use in U.S. is that more whites (white includes Latinos) use pot on a regular basis than African Americans.
The box truck would not raise any suspicions in that neighborhood. As I mentioned earlier, even early in the morning where in other neighborhoods you’ll observe residents leaving for work and school, people watering their lawns and gardening, walking to metro station, walking their dog, or jogging – this neighborhood is busy with people bustling about but 90% of these busy people are contractors, housekeepers, landscapers, dog walkers, nannys – so you do see a lot of box trucks, pick up trucks, and those smaller trucks with cabs (a lot of electricians use these types of vehicles here in DC area), and suvs. Why they chose a box truck is my question.
Once again I cannot find an article I read online last week where a spokesperson for the rental company that owns the box truck used by Wint and associates, stated that no one who was arrested with Wint, including Wint, worked for the rental company. She also stated that Wint did not rent the box truck, nor did his brother. Wint was in the Chevy sedan but U.S. Marshalls found cash (reportedly 10K), money orders, and copies of money orders in the box truck.
A strange thing about the box truck is that the company does not lease to AIW and they’re not a local company. I think the article said the company is based in Colorado. The article does not state who rented the truck, or if had been stolen. I wonder if they chose that truck model because they considered kidnapping?
Wallace parking 1 block away is odd for that area of Woodley Park. While the areas closer to the National Zoo have competitive street parking, the area adjacent to Embassy Row, does not so street parking is ample and always available (unless special event/party). Wallace should have been able to park directly in front, or on either side of the mansion without any problem. The mansion is huge and sits on a corner. Even with contractors working there with extra vehicles – it should not have been a challenge.
I personally think Wallace having his passport strange. There’s no reason to travel locally with your passport when you have a driver’s license. I never carry mine locally because it’s much more expensive to replace if lost/stolen. I have a driver’s license, and credit cards. Carrying my passport is redundant.
I believe you mentioned the possible importance of the auction Savvas allegedly expressed interest in attending. I have experience going to auctions in Baltimore, MD and Northern VA. Cash is almost always best because most auction houses charge a fee to purchase via credit card. Some do not even accept credit cards.
I reread an online newspaper article. The other housekeeper is interviewed talking about the 40K, and why Wallace was asked to drop it off. This doesn’t make sense to me. In the very same interview she explains she didn’t work at the Savopoulos mansion on Wednesday, May 13th. Instead, she was in Chantilly. VA at the martial arts center, with Savvas that morning and afternoon. She left at some point and I’d assume it was prior to 6 pm.
This is the day Amy contacted Savvas, and asked him to come home. Another employee (not Wallace and not the housekeeper) told LE that Savvas left the dojo by 6 pm. It was later that evening that Savvas, or whoever had control of his cell phone, requested $40K be brought to his home the next day, Thursday, May 14th.
Now how did the other housekeeper know that Wallace had been requested to retrieve $40K from AIW’s accountant and bring to the mansion? This arrangement was not discussed while Savvas was at the dojo, but later that evening when Savvas had been tricked into not returning home, and being incapacitated by a home-invader(s).
Someone please explain to me how she would have known about the 40K drop off? She even knew it was to be left in the garage. Remember, she was not working at the mansion on Thursday, May 14th. This is the housekeeper who’d received many strange messages about Amy being ill and that she wouldn’t have to work that day.
More tomorrow.
Sleep is needed.
Tricked into returning home. Not “not”.
Night, night.
Treya, my remarks about marijuana and Wint and Wallace, wasn’t so much about their race (even though it is a well known fact that bros like their weed), but more of what Wallace (age 28) would have had in common with the THUG Wint (age 34)? One common item, I thought of was weed. Also given Wint’s numerous brushes with the law, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of his arrests were for “possession”.
You are right in that drugs are a Caucasian problem too, especially with heroin. My Midwest home town (population 50,000) is riddled with middleclass white heroin users, under the age of 30…in fact, they say it is an epidemic there.
Regarding the 2nd maid: Nelitza “Nelly” Gutierrez, a longtime housekeeper for the Savopoulos family, who said she was a good friend of Veralicia “Vera” Figueroa.
Nelly, who didn’t want her full name used for security reasons, owns her own cleaning company and worked for the family for more than two decades. Nelly allowed Figueroa to work with her at the Savopoulos’ family’s home. [this excerpt was taken from one of the news sources, I posted]
Perhaps, Nelly knew about the auction when working with Savvas all day Wednesday? Maybe he told her then, of his plans for attending an auction?
Because Wallace was questioned the same day by the police to why his car was nearby, perhaps then is when LE gleaned from him the info about the sum of money contained in the drop off. They could have used this info to ask Nelly what she knew about it [since she was the last credible witness to have seen Savvas alive]. Perhaps, that is how she knew the amount was $40,000?
Treya wants to know why Nelly Guiterrez had been texted by Jordan Wallace about the money drop?? How did she even hear about the fire so quickly ?? Wasn’t she working elsewhere at the time?? .
I have been asking about exactly the same questions since I watched her speak on several different TV interviews. One was at the scene of mansion fire when she showed up there and shrugs, “Thank God it was not me!” WHAT?!?!
Who would ever think to say such a self-centered thing at such a time – particularly, after 20 years of employment?? I was not impressed by this woman’s demeanor in any way, shape or form. She was talking to media constantly for a few days and suddenly, she just stopped
I want to know who ‘purportedly’ texted Jordan Wallace about the fire? It makes no sense for him to text Amy S. to inform her of a fire at the mansion and even to ask her if she was alright…. that s just cause to suspect JW of conspiracy to defraud. It makes no sense for him to text her. Where did he think Savvas was at the time?? Amateurish error of an inexperienced and opportunistic criminal.
Plus, I am of mind to believe he made the money drop and spent a short bit of time at the residence. All the texting around is part of his transparent coverup.
I hope LE locates those burner phones from receipts or surveillance footage!!
The commission of this crime and the level of immoral depravity was far over the heads of all the perpetrators and their accomplices!!
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mansion-Murder-NW-DC-Woodley-Four-Dead-Savopoulos-Housekeeper-304439421.html Commenter, this interview (and article) says that Savvas’ Mother, is the one who called Nelly, telling her about the fire. Nelly also has an alibi, in that she was working at another family’s home in Virginia.
C B:
I must say, your research skills are very impressive…. I have Google alerts for any breaking news on this case; however it is not picking up nearly as fast as you do! 🙂
Thanks Commenter. I am a very logical, linear thinker.
I heard a very smart man say one time “that if you want the right answer, you need to ask the right questions”. He further said that “you remain a student, if all you do is STUDY to provide the right answers, but you achieve MASTERY, when you know which questions to ask!”
Commentator,
I am curious about housekeeper #2, Nelly G. She was being interviewed in silhouette and/or back to camera within a few days, maybe even the very next day after the murders, Friday, May 15th using her first name only. I did not believe for a second that she was “in fear for her safety”. That’s simply ridiculous. When you fear for your life you do not go on local or national tv. You don’t even give interviews to print media. You go into seclusion imho.
The only other reasons to go into seclusion is because your laywer told you to, or you are guilty and know you cannot pull off an interview with any sincerity.
In our home, none of us could not understand how Nelly was able to be interviewed so soon after her employers and their little boy were murdered in a brutal, strange, and unusual manner.
I would have been inconsolable. on medication, and not able to speak to anyone but close family. I would not even be able to entertain the thought of being interviewed by anyone except detectives because I would want to help as much as possible but I would be crying throughout the interview, and it would be very difficult to keep it together because after 20 years – I would have a very close bond with the family. Several of her comments sounded very strange. So strange the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
However, I don’t know of any report on tv, nor print media which claimed Nelly G. contacted Wallace, or vice-versa. I never remarked that either of them contacted one another. My question is how would Nelly G. know about the $40K and that it was to be left in the garage? Now someone said perhaps detectives told her – if they did then that’s foolish and very bad detective work. LE should not be sharing any details with anyone they question that early in the game.
What was commented on about Nelly G. was that she freely gave this information to the journalist interviewing her without any provocation. We also saw her interviewed on local tv news, as I said, within a day or two of the murders and she actually said that she knew about the $40K being left in the garage for Savvas so that he could go to an auction because he wanted to purchase things for the new martial arts center. This really doesn’t make any sense because Wallace claims the arrangement to leave the $40K in the garage, or more specifically in the Mosler parked in the garage, was arranged Wednesday evening after 8 pm (May 13th). How and why would Nelly G. know this? Savvas was being held against his will inside his home, and Jordan Wallace was (not sure of his location), and Nelly G was (not sure of her location either). Do you see where I’m going with this?
Nelly G. also said in this same local tv news interview that it was not unusual for that amount of money to be left on the doorstep or porch, or inside the garage of the Savopoulos home? Seriously? Nelly made this comment during a local tv news interview with a very matter-of-fact demeanor. She insisted it was not unusual at all. Everyone in my home heard it and we all said something to the effect: Wow! We need to hang out in Woodley Park more.
What I find puzzling is if the money was withdrawn from Savvas’ personal bank account, or a business account from Bank of America why only $40K? If this information is wrong, or Wallace lied and it came from the safe at AIW then who opened the safe? What does that employee say about the reason given for the money being removed from the safe, or withdrawn from an account?
And if this money really was for an auction, why wouldn’t Savvas have had the money already on him? Especially if it was in a safe at American Iron Works (location: Hyattsville, MD) or was there a safe in the office at the new martial arts center (location: Chantilly, VA). Because when you really want something that’s listed through an auction, you want to get there early. You’re prepared the day before you go. And a lot of auction houses begin the bidding as early as 8 am. Some accept both online bids and in-person. I wish we knew if the auction story was for real, and which auction house. That specific amount of money is just strange, and very little compared to what would have been available.
Unless there’s some kind of security protocol at Bank of America that someone other than the account holder can withdraw up to $40K. Any amount over that, Savvas would have had to have been present?
So yeah, sorry folks but Nelly G. nags at me.There is no logical reason for her to have known about Savvas instructing Jordan W. to drop off the $40K inside the Mosler/garage, Thursday, May 14th unless she was part of the conspiracy and too stupid to understand she should not share that information with anyone because she cannot logically know those details. Even if that info had already been released to the public (about the “ransom”, the amount, and drop-off location) she specifically said that she “knew” about it – past tense.
Even if they paid cash for stuff, LE may be able to track whereabouts during the weeks and days leading up to the home invasion and learn where they stopped (Target in Hyattsville MD? New Carrollton Lowes? Home Depot in NE DC? WalMart in NW or NE DC? Target or Home Depot in Arlington, VA?). Then they can study the cctv parking lot and store videos.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many street cameras in DC, especially in the Woodley Park/Cathedral neighborhoods. Even the homes in these affluent neighborhoods, are surprisingly without security cameras (unless we could not see them). I did find one security camera facing the sidewalk/street of a gated mansion about 2 blocks west of the Savopoulos mansion. The only city street camera I could find within a few blocks of the mansion is at Garfield and 34th St NW. It also looks like the Embassy of Belgium (which sits on that corner) also has cameras at their entry (but the building sits back several yards from Garfield St NW.
However, if the reports were true that the porsche was being driven erratically and at high speeds along DC’s New York Ave – then it should have tripped off several speed cameras along that corridor and there are a lot of street security cameras so hopefully LE can get a good photo of the driver.
There are also a lot of street cameras along Rhode Island Ave in DC. LE more than likely has already reviewed cctv footage from these cameras as well because it’s the main thoroughfare leading into Hyattsville, MD (where the porsche was discovered torched).
I took a few photos today. Not very good but they show how easy to park on that street even at 1 pm (when I was passing through on my way home today). A few show the solid double wood garage doors and that they do not have windows.
I also snapped a photo of an exclusive block just before the entrance of Rock Creek Park. There’s a sliver of an area between the Savopoulos mansion and Massachusetts Ave NW (Embassy Row) where there’s been a new house under contruction for months. There are port-o-pots. There are a lot of contractors and construction workers. Many of whom were wearing yellow reflective vests. In fact, there are a lot of those yellow reflective vests being worn by all the worker bees in that exclusive well-manicured and always busy enclave.
The same type of vest which was reportedly worn by the mystery porsche driver that Thursday afternoon. I noticed one today hanging from a wall of house, just a few blocks from the mansion. A lot of the guys working on the new house (I believe the street is Normandstone Drive NW, it’s just off of Woodland, and leads to the Embassy of Sri Lanka – who btw have a security camera at their entryway which is only a few feet from the road/sidewalk) were wearing yellow striped reflective vests.
I don’t know if you are the person who believes Wallace is in protective custody? If you are, may I ask why you believe that to be the case and if it’s true, wouldn’t we know? That information is not usually kept secret from the public. If anything, LE often uses publicly announcing protective custody status or a prime witness/person of interest as a way to motivate and scare the shit out of the other co-conspirators of a crime into talking.
About alibis. They only prove where someone was, or wasn’t. It doesn’t prove or disprove direct involvement.
Although they have LE confirmed alibis – I’m not convinced about Jordan W, and Nelly G. I’d like to know more about the accountant who got the ransom money together for Jordan. And I’d really love to know who was arrested when Wint was captured. I believe 1 was his brother?
Isn’t it ironic that Amy Savopoulos’ Porsche is a “911”?
Not sure where to post my photos. I will not be using Instagram or Facebook. If old school Flickr still exists I’ll upload them there and post the link later this evening.
Heading to the beach without my tablet! I don’t believe I will be reading about crime until next week. Hopefully by then there will be at least 1 additional arrest in this tragic case.
Thank you for sharing your insights. Stay safe!
Treya, you have the skills of an astute detective! I think your observations about the new construction lot, were probably observed by Wint and his accomplices, as well!
How quickly could a person walk from the Mansion to the construction spot? If it is a matter of minutes, than it would be the perfect place for Wint (& others) to be picked up, exit quietly.
Enjoy your beach time!
I read that the last person LE reports saw Savvas alive was another employee at the dojo in Chantilly, VA. S/He knew that Savvas had received a phone call or text from Amy, requesting he return home. Detectives asked this employee what time Savvas left the dojo and s/he said around 6 pm, Wednesday, May 13th. The employee was not Nelly G. Nelly G was not the last credible eye witness to see Savvas alive.
Thanks for that fact Treya about last person to see Savvas alive! Since you are local, you get more details than us outsiders.
It didn’t take long for the perpetrators to start demanding things from Savvas. He probably didn’t arrive home until 6:30 – 6:45 p.m.. Then by 8:30 p.m. Wallace texts him back to tell him that he got his calls/messages!
Media reports cite the deceased child was totally unrecognizable after the arson fire in his room and the investigators could not even identify a gender in the charred remains, and autopsy results were inconclusive.
This would make it completely impossible to definitively know an estimated number of stab wounds and any other trauma inflicted on poor little Phillip. Stories about the level of depravity are speculative without witness testimonies providing descriptive testimonies.
Also, it deeply hurts the afflicted families to ever imagine how brutal it probably was for their loved ones.
This is so disturbing and beyond cruel, the only conclusion I can draw from this information is those who are the perpetrators need to pay.
And, imo, capital punishment is in order! Why should psychopath Wint or any other evildoers who are accomplices be able to take up space on this planet??
It was recently reported on local DC news, autopsy showed Philip suffered at least 50 stab wounds and was set on fire while still alive. I’ve not had the heart to read (if released to the public) the actual autopsy report.
On a somewhat related note, also on local DC news, but aired within a day or two of the murders, they played the recording of the very first responder’s call for backup and him giving description on the scene. We have never in our lives heard horror and terror in someone’s voice. It was frightening and eery hearing this professional firefighter, obviously disturbed deeply by the scene.
Damon Wint’s violent past may not even be questioned into evidence in an eventual trial, according to defense expert.
There is a protective order on this link which shows Wint grabbed a knife and cut into his own arm so when police were called during an altercation he could tell them it was his then GF who stabbed him!
June 11, 2015
NBC Washington local
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Daron-Wint-Court-Records-Reveal-Violent-Past-of-Mansion-Murders-Suspect-306829181.html
If Wint doesn’t take the stand then none of his past is coming into evidence. Even if he did take the stand only prior convictions can come in for impeachment purposes and then only certain convictions. For instance, a simple assault is not an impeachable conviction in D.C.
People have to be convicted based on evidence of the crime they are on trial for – not for prior behavior or because they are “bad” people. Prior bad acts may come in as evidence only in very limited circumstances such as to show a pattern of very similar behavior. That doesn’t seem to exist in this case. Few other exceptions a bit too complicated for me to explain at this late hour.
Hi Jana,
If you find some time to pore over all of the affidavit links on the Wallace search threads exhibiting Damon Wint’s past convictions for criminal assault and home invasion, please let us know if you still do not see a pattern? I promise you, it will be elucidating. Thanks
A possible scenario given the facts we already know:
Wallace’s GF Ashley is in the house with Wint, waiting for a signal (a pic of the cash) that the financial transaction was successful. Wallace parks his car a block from the Mansion and walks to the house, deliver’s the cash, then walks back to his car, text’s Savvas at 10:26 that “package has been delivered”.
Ashley leaves the Mansion (at 10:30 a.m.) (she has dark hair, and could easily pass (from a distance) as the Savopoulos’ dark haired daughter), gets into Amy’s Porsche, speeds away, then picks up Wallace a block away, before speeding off to Chantilly.
I read in an article about the Autobahn, where Ashley still works, that she too, likes to drive fast and has aspirations of becoming the next famous professional female driver!
I believe that Wallace had a driver, because his mode of communication on the return trip, was one of texting and not calling! Given that he is a KEY player in this plot, he would have been too worked up to drive/text/keep up his charade of being the dutiful assistant. He also wouldn’t have a reason to be in the Porsche, if Savvas didn’t ask him to drive him anywhere that day!
I believe that Ashley could have done all of the driving, drops Wallace off near the Mansion before taking the car to the Church “for safe keeping.” Amy had an older model car (2008-2009), so it most likely that her car was paid off and titled to her.
I also believe Wallace was take by surprise when LE found his car. LE certainly didn’t waste anything combing through it! Once, Wallace figured out that LE was on to him, he drove his car back to the apartment complex (that he is familiar with) torches Amy’s Porsche, runs through the wooded area, back to his car at the complex, then speeds away.
The hounds did hit on a trail from the church to the apartment complex.
I hope LE has questioned Ashley extensively to where she was all day on 5/14/15!!!
The photos I saw of Ashley show a young woman. at least 5 years older than the Savopoulos girls. And in the pictures I saw of Ashley she has very vibrant RED hair. A shade of red that could never be confused with brunette. Savopoulos’ daughters are brunette (dark brown or black), the other blonde.
Treya, she could have EASILY worn a wig.
I have a daughter Ashley’s age and she is constantly changing her looks with wigs. Sometimes, I have to look TWICE, because wigs can drastically change her looks!
Ashley could have also worn sun glasses to further disguise her eyes and facial features.
Well of course but so too could have whoever was driving the Porsche. Anyone can wear a disguise. What makes you think Ashley was a co-conspirator?
“I have a daughter Ashley’s age”
Then, for heaven’s sake, Clue Bird, why are we being this careless with speculation about this woman. There is not one shred of evidence linking her to this crime. And that short text exchange hardly counts. From all accounts she has been cooperative and very useful to LE.
I’m very uncomfortable with these accusations even in the guise of “speculation.” People can be damaged for life by reckless talk.
Jana,
I DID preface my post with “Possible Scenario”.
The reason that I felt she could be a possible accomplice is because of her response to the money and because of hers and Wallace’s former job titles at Autobahn.
Ashley’s response to seeing a picture of the money:
Daaaamn. I wonder how much it is?”
Wallace responded “40”.
“Jesus,” replied Barrett.
Wallace, a former media specialist should know better than to send these types of photos to her and “others.”
It has also been established that Wallace posted pictures of the Savopoulos’ vehicles on his social media accounts. I hope he obtained permission for his disclosures. Being that Barrett is Wallace’s GF, and the director of social medial and photography, I thought she should have reminded him of the dangers of posting these types of pictures (anytime).
You do make a VALID point howevert! Barrett did comply with LE and hasn’t been charged with ANYTHING, so I will never mention her name again, in any other posts.
Clue Bird, interesting points. I try to remember that these are just kids and they also don’t seem all that bright frankly.
JW seems particularly immature and caught up in the frivolity of his job – the cars, the big CEO boss. He’s trying to impress his girl and he is obviously doing stupid things in the process. I try to remember that when I ascribe motives to his behavior. Or anyone’s for that matter.
The real nut case is Wint. I checked his record in Maryland and DC and he is off the charts – violent and irrational. I realize some priors are just arrests and even convictions may not tell the whole story but there’s enough there for me to understand why his family was scared of him. There are hints of him taking vengence on others for real or imagined slights or whatever to him. People need to be really careful who they let into their lives especially when they have the lives of others in their hands – like their children.
Have a nice weekend, CB.
Jana,
I really hope that Wallace wasn’t involved, other than posting bumptious photos that may have gotten in the hands of some opportunists, who masterminded a plot to rob/loot/kill the family. Should his name be cleared, his involvement be disproved, I hope that he has learned a valuable lesson about the exponentiating power of texting/posting pictures of property that doesn’t belong to him!
I watched the 20-20 special and my mind is still fixated on the big box truck. I discussed the show with a few others, and we believe that valuable items were carried out of the family home during the night of 5/13/15.
Had Wint not been caught/apprehended, I believe that he and his gang would have came back for the vehicles parked outside the garage.
Wint is a 21st Century bogeyman! Robin Ficker, should be heckled for trying to change the bogeyman’s face into a dove!
I believe Wallace drove the Porsche from the mansion to Chantilly. I don’t think he would have delegated the privilege to anyone else. His plan was probably to return to his car later in the day. Maybe he didn’t know the whole household would be murdered, or that the mansion would be torched. When he heard about the fire, he was in a panic to get rid of the Porsche and retrieve his car (driving erratically through DC as reported by witnesses), but realized he would not be able to slip into the neighborhood unnoticed. So instead, he dumped the Porsche at a location familiar to him—the church parking lot and torched it. Or perhaps the box truck was to be used to steal the car, but he panicked before he was able to meet up with Wint. I read somewhere that the box truck was like a garage on wheels—made to house a car. And who rented it, if not Wint and his associates? It sounds like something that the Autobahn Racetrack might have a reason to rent. (Ashley Barrett?)
He probably chose texting as his method of communication because his anxiety was high and he was afraid his anxiety would show in any voice messages. Plus there was a good chance he knew a call would not be answered and wanted text messages to augment his alibi. It is also possible that he asked someone else to send text messages from various locations (Ashley Barrett?).
Media reports of statements attributed to the second housekeeper Nelly Guiterrez confuse me. In early reports, it was stated that she knew about the scheduled delivery of the money and what it was to be used for and that she had contacted Wallace to confirm that he had in fact delivered it. Then in later interviews, she stated that she knew nothing about the money.
Some of these media accounts are like the telephone game, where the articles are derived from original articles, and then derived from secondary articles, and tertiary and so on, so who knows what’s accurate?
Ginny,
Great info. The box truck could have been from the Autobahn. I read a new article where the spokesperson for the rental truck company (they’re not local, but from a western state) said that law enforcement officials have stated that Wint, and those who were arrested with him – did not rent the box truck and that the rental company did not rent vehicles to AIW.
Where the truck came from and if not stolen but rented – who rented it, are important details.
Very soon after the murders, we watched a news program where Nelly G (housekeeper #2) verbally stated that she knew about the $40K, that it was for an auction, that it was dropped off by another employee to inside the garage. I don’t believe she mentioned Jordan Wallace by name. But she definitely not only stated she knew about the money, the drop off details, but elaborated that it was not unusual for large amounts of cash to be left in the garage or the front porch of the mansion.
Ginny, keep in mind these facts when thinking through Wallace’s actions:
1. He was last seen by surveillance cameras at the Hardware store around noon. [I haven’t seen any sources that say otherwise, or how long he stayed at the Marital Arts Center] He could have easily given his cell phone to someone else at this time (Ashley) to monitor/text with. It might explain why the mode of communication switches to just texting and why his phone was still pinging in Chantilly, VA until 1:34 p.m..
2. Eye witnesses see Amy’s Porsche speeding down New York Avenue at 1:30 p.m..
The fire was set somewhere between 1:15 -1:20 p.m., but reported at 1:24 p.m.
It only takes 13-15 minutes to travel from Woodley Park Avenue to travel to New York
Avenue. Eye witness said that the driver was a black male with
short well groomed hair, wearing a racing vest, fitting Wallace’s description. Wint has
dreadlocks.
Police discovered Wallace’s unoccupied car HOURS after the murder parked one block from the crime scene, police documents revealed. Documents state “Mr Wallace’s vehicle was recovered approximately one block away from the crime scene on May 14, 2015″, the day of the murders. The next day, police applied for a search warrant of Jordan Wallace’s vehicle, according to court documents.
Where was Wint; Wallace & the Amy’s car for 4 hours BEFORE the Porsche was torched? Wint could have easily be waiting at a designated place to be picked up by Wallace, before Wallace bolted out of D.C.
I don’t think that whoever was driving the Porsche would go back into the neighborhood, in the middle of a crime scene! My guess, is that they were trying to DILUTE the bundles of money, by purchasing money orders, food, and other stuff that they wanted.
3. Amy’s Porsche was found burning 13 miles away at the Church around 5:30 p.m.
Below is a link to a great view of the Mansion’s side loader garage and all of the vehicles parked there the day of the murders.
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/06/04/police-search-car-savopolous-assistant/28493037/
Hey Great theory. I just hope that now Wint is gonna have to blurt out. He would not want to go down alone!
Thanks Louis! Every piece of the puzzle points to something/someone and it is often the littlest details that reveal the bigger picture!
This thought keeps nagging me. According to People magazine, JW sent the text with picture of cash to girlfriend Ashley at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. NBC reports that Veralicia Figueroa’s husband, Bernardo Alfaro went to the home at 9:30 a.m. In the ABC interview he says he only banged on the door and then started to go around the house to look in a window. That is when he got the strange call from Mr. Savopoulos. I suggest JW was inside the house at this moment and could identify who was at the door. And that it was JW making the shuffling sounds that Mr. Alfaro heard. He quickly sprinted upstairs to have Savopoulos call him. If all of the victims were tied up or incapacitated they certainly could not be looking through a peep hole or out a window. Wint would not know what Mr. Alfaro looked like. JW had to be in that house to ID him. In the interview Mr. Alfaro gave to ABC he only says only later he called and called but everything went to voicemail. http://www.people.com/article/dc-mansion-murders-investigation-assistant-jordan-wallace-dropped-off-cash, http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mansion-Murders-Washington-DC-Savopoulos-Woodley-Park-Daron-Dylon-Wint-304574171.html, http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/05/husband-of-slain-housekeeper-in-nw-quadruple-homicide-speaks-exclusively-to-abc7-114107.html.
PM: Appreciate your theory, but how do we know that Wallace knew/had previously met Alfaro? From all accounts, he either dropped Vera off to work or she took the bus. It’s unlikely the two had ever met, especially considering he’d only been employed at SS’ assistant for a month or so. More likely was that Alfaro was yelling at the door, and Wint had SS make the call.
Tim, I posit that your theory is sheer conjecture, no more valid nor invalid than mine.
That’s what I was thinking, Tim.
PM, I think the difference between what you are saying and what Tim is saying is that you are speculating on acts of someone based on really nothing while Tim is asking for some basis for your speculation. Tim has also added to his question some facts we’ve learned about Vera’s commuting habits and the fact of JW’s short lived employment.
Alfaro gave us some indication of what he did at the door before going around the house. Though admittedly it’s speculation that he might have identified himself in an effort to gain admittance.
Speculation can only get you so far without some basis in fact.
http://www.capitalgazette.com/cg2-arc-140321gn-connections–autobahn-20140329-story.html
Source document that verifies Ashley Barrett’s & Jordan Wallace’s “Need for Speed!”
Apparently they also have a need for greed.
Hmm interesting he has had concussions… Can really alter someone’s mentality and disposition.
Jordan Wallace has just withdrawn from the Kart World Championship in Italy. This is the Google cache showing him still registered a few days ago in the #97 spot:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:rkNeVIPuc8wJ:www.kartworldchampionship.com/drivers.php+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
While today someone else has taken his spot:
http://www.kartworldchampionship.com/drivers.php
Wow Spanish Inquisition! Amazing find. Thanks for sharing it. I wonder if he’s still scheduled for any other competitions?
That is indeed interesting, Spanish Inquisition. Thanks for this….
Interesting, but not surprising. I’m sure he’s been told not to leave the country, and/or, he’s not even in possession of his passport anymore. But the fact that he had plans to travel would perhaps explain why he had it in his backpack, even if the trip wasn’t planned for several weeks.
They would need a court order for him to surrender his passport. If he has been subpoened to the grand jury at this point with the posibility he may become a target, he needs an attorney before to see if he intends to assert his 5th Amendment privilege. It’s a whole process but if on advice of counsel he is resisting going to the grand jury then it would end up before the Chief Judge and it’s possible it was requested that his passport be surrendered as a material witness. But that doesn’t mean the CJ would grant such a request by the prosecutor. It’s an interesting prospect but without some proof of risk of flight probably not going to happen – and he was cooperating before.
All that to say I really don’t know.
Dang Spanish Inquistion! You are on it… we might have to trade monkiers ( jk)
Well,well, well…….evidently, someone’s competition financing fell through…..
might even be the reason for carrying his passport and vehicle registration in his backpack. Brings new attention to that special box truck customized for transporting racing vehicles, imo.
Driver #97 showed Jordan Wallace’s name next to a yellow dot connoting:
“Driver is paying financed, or belongs to a group that is paying financed, or has promissed to pay shortly.”
On June 11th, CNN reported an unnamed source claimed JW is not considered a suspect. (Link to video and article is shown on another post.)
Imo, if Wallace is not under protective custody or arrested fairly soon, LE would be dropping the ball on this alleged accomplice’s involvement. And, with so many agencies involved that would be virtually impossible. Doubt they would already know about this tip, yet though… very clever piece to the mystery puzzle, Inquisition.
” And, with so many agencies involved that would be virtually impossible”
Not sure what agencies you’re referencing and why.
Jana:
Actually, I honestly do not understand your question as to ‘why’ you are even asking ‘why’ I brought up the number of LE authorities entwined in this massive takedown? Isn’t it patently obvious this case is complex and multi-tiered and I find it relevant as to the grand jury convening on this case and the amount of time, in terms of years, it will eventually take to present it.
Also, it is widely reported on multiple media outlets takedown videos involving several law enforcement agencies which were tracking Damon Wint and his ‘accomplices’ in the box truck and Chevy Cruze from NYS to D.C.
FBI,State Marshalls, MCP, State Police, New York City Police, N.Y. State Police, and other off duty LE from other jurisdictions.
I also find this of interest since it all went down so efficiently. Authorities pinned them in an amazing maneuver which was quite remarkable, frankly.
Exactly, when they picked up the caravan’s trail is unclear, but it proves they are much further along in the investigation of this matter than willing to share with media. I also find this to be worthy of note.
D.C.’s AG wants to avoid the sensational and the spectacular by being tight-lipped about sealed affidavits. They are going for solid forensic evidence, a confirmed timeline and witness testimonies…. certainly, that would not discount the value of ‘circumstantial evidence’ in a final verdict.
There is a chance this case will migrate from a civil suit to federal case. If it does, we will see just how well criminal law is practiced in Washington, D.C.
Of note, your posts directed towards my comments appear to be written straight out of a criminal defense lawyer’s playbook. It is fine with me if you have little tolerance for random speculation. However, circumstantial evidence, has effectively won criminal convictions even without a body or a murder weapon in multiple cases.
In a previous post, you wanted to know why I had mentioned the Casey Anthony case? I am not going to argue the lengthy merits and mistakes of that case in this forum. However, I would tend to agree the prosecutor distended his own side, but the defense won after putting ‘reasonable doubt’ regarding George Anthony into the minds of the jurors in a last minute courtroom shocker. Well played by the defense, but was this the correct verdict? You say yea, and I say nay. No big deal… we can simply politely agree to disagree, respectfully.
Info reported about the Savopoulos home security tapes: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1505/21/acd.01.html
Someone mentioned a chilling voice mail message Savvas left for Nelly G., housekeeper #2. Savvas sounds ok to me but as the other poster mentioned, you can hear what sounds like a child screaming in the background. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsRv5LumOE0
Commentator, Tim, Clue Bird and Treya:
In reading everyone’s updated posts today a thought occurred to me…SOMEONE, was very very angry at Phillip. And I thought.. Wint hadn’t worked for SS for nearly ten years. Phillip was just born. WHO would have so much anger towards a ten year old child they had never met? I think Wint definitely killed ( along with accomplices) the three adults. But the only person who had interaction with Phillip was JW. Why would JW harbor so much anger towards Phillip?
I dawned on me that JW had been coaching the youngster with the Go Karts. That is until Mr. S hired someone new. An expert. Mr. S said he wants the best of everything… and he def wanted the absolute best coach for his son. Which means, that if JW was working in that capacity, and for some strange reason, lost his coaching position to a better, more established and professionally respected driver, do you think that might set JW off on a murderous tangent? Then, maybe as an act of mercy, Mr. S gave Jordan Wallace a token job, driving him around town, running errands. Sounds to me like Jordan Wallace had a bone to pick with Phillip and or Mr. S. But from what I’ve gleaned from media, the boy was separated from his parents and Vera, and was not only tortured- but mutilated. In the screams heard from the ABC News piece, one can clearly hear the child screaming in absolute fear and pain.
I believe that JORDAN WALLACE IS THE KILLER OF THE CHILD. I BELIEVE HE HAD MOTIVE AND A GRUDGE…and Jordan Wallace wanted to exact revenge. He had every intention on murdering whomever was in the house as they would all be able to recognize him. A regular burgler takes what they can get– then get the hell out. This was never about the money… this was about payback.
And I believe that LE are going to come to the same conclusion if they haven’t. already.
Jordan Wallace is a demonic entity so terrifying because he looks like a normal human being. He is not.
I agree with you Sleuth. I think I posted yesterday, that while I do believe Wint more-than-likely responsible for most of the torture and murders of the adults, that Philip’s torture, being lit on fire (while alive), and murder was by another perp. Someone Philip knew and could identify. And someone who was so envious and jealous of little Philip that “hate” does not fully capture the sick heart and mind of someone who could imagine such a plan, let along carry it out. I also think that Vera may have been killed on Wednesday. Which is way she was unable to speak to her husband. It doesn’t make any sense that Savvas or Amy would not have given one of their cell phones to Vera to contact her family.
Vera was the one victim who still had a pulse on Thursday and was rushed to hospital but then died. Something happend to Amy.. SS made numerous references to ‘Amy not feeling well’ and Amy needed to go to the hospital et cetera. I think Amy was harmed early on. Whoever did these crimes was beyond depraved. And I think Jordan Wallace his nimwit girlfriend Ashley Barnett and everyone else involved will fry because of it.
Sleuth, YES, I think that Jordan Wallace was jealous of little Philip because Philip was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, whereas Jordan was born with a plastic one (like most people are).
Jordan also called Savvas and asked for a job, after his termination in March, 2015. Philip was beginning to improve in his racing skills and was starting to attend out-of-state races (N.C.; Indiana). Savvas was a savvy business man, a very kind man, they say, and possibly thought that Jordan would be a good fit, since he knew the racing culture and he liked to drive. Jordan was once quoted as saying “Give me four wheels and a steering wheel!” Maybe Savvas thought by having a personal driver-assistant, that he could conduct business in his cars during the travel time, and accomplish two things at once: Managing his multiple business affairs and having quality time with his son.
While Philip was being given the financial support to further his hobby/dreams, Jordan was struggling financially (He formed the Broke Racers Club) and probably RESENTED seeing a kid get more than he ever has gotten. More than likely, Jordan BURNT some professional bridges with his Autobahn connections after his dismissal.
It has been said that Jordan’s termination was over “not getting enough hours”, but I think it was something more! Maybe he used the indoor track, during closed business hours to grow his side business of coaching rich kids or maybe he stole money and was caught? Something BAD had to have happened, because at one time Jordan Wallace was Autobahn’s golden boy.
Jordan also had races lined up, so he probably was getting worried about not attending, thus LIMITING his chances, even more to race professionally.
It was said that Vera did not have strong English-speaking skills. She probably would have spoken to her husband in Spanish, and the killers couldn’t take a chance that she would say something they didn’t understand. If she had to speak English to her husband so the killers could understand, it would have certainly raised suspicion.
I very much am in line with your thinking, Sleuth. I am relieved that people are still able to look objectively at all the facts known surrounding Jordan Wallace (without assuming that all the facts we don’t know would automatically point to his innocence). Even the unnamed “source” said they have not reached that conclusion.
Trey Says I heard it. It made me feel physically ill. I want to cry. I can’t stand the thought that the people who did this are still out there breathing air. Dear God let them catch them all soon.
Interview with Vera’s (housekeeper #1) husband, Bernardo Alfaro. He mentions that she took the bus to work. Also explains what happened when he tried calling her, and then what he did when he went to the mansion on Thursday morning :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jjv-2Lq3po
News video, which when I watch the church parking lot surveillance video of unknown person LE believed/believes set the Porsche on fire – looks more like Wint than Wallace to me. You can view the surveillance video frame by frame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfVJY-nAEX8
ABC News piece about Wint’s capture, info about Wint, and interview with at least 1 AIW employee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BurZd0x3TH4
Daron Wint’s father told CNN News that this other son (not Daron but his brother). Had hooked up with him, to help him turn himself in to police? His father, step-mother, and his half-sibling (I believe a little sister) have a restraining order against Daron because he threatened their lives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znWWdDjhwCU
Yes Sleuth. In all the info I’ve read and heard about this case, the female’s name, who was barely clinging to life after first responder’s came upon this horrific crime scene, was never given. They’d only say “female”. I finally came upon an article late last night where Vera was named and identified as their housekeeper. And I mentioned earlier that perhaps it was due to her fluency in Spanish and not English being the reason for the murderers not permitting her to call home. I still think it odd they’d not allow her to text from her own cell? I don’t know. They had to count on her family not becoming suspicious and not calling authorities to do a welfare check.
I don’t know if the autopsy reports have officially been released. But I heard today that (these are extremely gruesome details allegedly from the autopsies) that Savvas’ head, specifically the back of his head, was crushed. And that Amy suffered many wounds, the death knell being her throat was slit. This was from one report. Whereas others say trauma to the back of the head for Savvas and many “lacerations” to Amy’s head and throat. We know, by his own bizarre bragging, Wint has a love of knives and has threatened many people with them. And he’s cut himself several times, and then claimed he was attacked.
Very sick disturbed individual who should have been incarcerated, or if mentally ill, kept away from the public and placed on appropriate round the clock care and given medication.
Jordan is in many ways scarier, I believe it was you who said when you look at Wint you know he’s trouble but with Jordan he looks like a nice person. And again, totally believe as you that Jordan was involved with the physical torture/murder of at least Philip.
Something else I came across late last night, never heard or read reported before – but there is a huge extremely serious and secure safe in the garage. Hmmmm………
Local FoxDC News article attributing interesting remarks made by Nelly G., housekeeper #2 about communicating with Jordan regarding the ransom money and drop off:
The Savopoulos’ housekeeper, Nelitza Gutierrez, told FOX 5’s Paul Wagner that this employee told her that he dropped off the cash on Thursday morning. Sources say he picked up the cash earlier that morning from the American Iron Works company owned by Savopoulos.
According to a police source and Gutierrez, the employee says Savopoulos was going to use the cash at an auction for the martial arts center he planned to open the next day in Chantilly, Virginia.
The assistant’s Facebook and Twitter pages say he lives in Annapolis, Maryland. His mother works at a local church. Staff at the church said she had not been to work in several days.
The employee has not responded to our requests for more information.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29129466/savopoulos-assistant
Nate, Commentator, Clue Bird, Tim and Treya ( if I left anyone out I havent learned your names yet sorry!)
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Nate can you or someone pls check the veracity of the CNN segment that ran tonight on Anderson Cooper? The reporter stated that authorities don’t think JW is complicit?! What??
Do they have their heads in the sand?
Reporter basically said that they think JW might be innocent and that they were looking at the two women found with Wint when he was arrested. Is there any truth to that? The evidence to me seems overwhelming:
Multiple inconsistencies inJW statements to police.
Admits to having via text to half-wit Ashley HALF the extorted money. HALF!! Shown in TWO bundles of cash equaling $20K
Found with Mosler registration in his backpack in his car.
Lied about how he got the money, when he got the money, and when or if SS istructed him to get the money.
Had some sort of issue with young Phillip or Mr. S for replacing him with another driver / tutor for Phillip.
US passport found in his backpack…when he had been on the job only three weeks. Who takes or is goes out of country vacation only THREE WEEKS after starting a new job?
His BMW parked a block AWAY from Savopoulos home. WHY?? And how was he getting around all the way to Chantilly? On a bike?
Person who resembles JORDAN WALLACE seen running away from church parking lot after torching the car.
Wallace and Wint were neighbors…they had to know each other. If all that leads LE to remove JW from the person of interest category, im moving to Canada!
After viewing CNN’s Anderson Cooper broadcast it seems as though a branch of LE is concentrating on the 2 women who laundered the ca$h into money orders and cash cards.
Another ‘anonymous’ source stated Jordan Wallace is still not a suspect. That is patently false since it is widely reported JW is still a ‘person of interest’…. as the last person known to communicate with Savvas Savopoulos. So, CNN’s correspondent found a single ‘unnamed source’ who said otherwise…. big whoop! Sounds fishy, imo.
Here is the CNN article and news video link:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/10/politics/dc-mansion-fire-bloody-bat/index.html
So, why did authorities not arrest these two female suspects when they were detained at the time, but instead release them back into the streets?? And, NOW they are the prime suspects LE are investigating??
Imo, LE just wants to keep the media off center so they can handle their business without answering any questions to the public in an open investigation. Robin Ficker was interviewed by MSM and the AG may have justifiably feared it was going to turn into a 3-ring circus and make hard convictions more difficult to obtain.
And, what about the driver of the box truck – basically, a getaway vehicle.. Wint’s brother? Why would he not be a suspect?? We now know this type of unit is specifically designed for transporting vehicles from a rental company in Colorado. The vendor would certainly know the name of the party who rented the truck… so, let’s just keep on following the ((invisible)) dots.
As such, it is still fairly early in the ongoing investigation…. and, we know JW was swabbed and printed when authorities seized his BMW and removed objects, materials and even the car’s hand rests. So, for any ‘unnamed source’ to dismiss JW’s involvement is simply not credible. There is no feasible way Wallace is completely off of the suspect list… and, he should be on the hook for lying to investigators which is illegal, anyway.
If they can find probable cause to arrest JW, he would turn on Wint in a heart beat. Wint is a rabid animal and Wallace had evidence already known show reason, motive and opportunity to mastermind this situation. When authorities locate the origination of the burner phones, this case will be cracked wide open and is very far from being completely solved.
The police are being very tight-lipped with media since there is so much LE agency crossover. They have not even had time to layout the entire case in front of a grand jury and this could be quite awhile before it eventually happens!
The families must be in a constant state of complete shock. This horrific incident was so senseless and depraved, the case should be tried at the federal level in order to place capital punishment back on the table. Damon Wint and all the accomplices in this home invasion murder plot are the worst of the worst and should receive the maximum allowable punishments for their actions!
Commenter, Sometimes LE announces things publicly to give a false sense of security to those concerned. While LE monitors their comings and goings, and possibly even wire taps their phones and other electronic communications. They may have done the same in releasing those who were arrested the evening they captured Wint. Maybe LE wanted to see where they’d go? Who they’d speak to? Observe their actions?
I would like to know more about those who were arrested and later released. I also really want to know who rented the box truck, or if it was stolen? If stolen from where was it stolen?
Re JW: “The evidence to me seems overwhelming”
Sleuth, sorry but in reality there is no evidence at this point that we have been made aware of. Admittedly there are some suspicious factors but there just is no evidence that links him to the murders. Or they would have arrrested him. It takes very little evidence to have grounds for an arrest. If you have evidence then you make your arrest and build your case after. But speculation is not evidence.
I still am unclear as to when LE located and took possession of JW’s car. I am also unclear as to when he initially made contact with the police and started giving information to the police. Was that at the scene of the fire? Did he ID himself to the fire dept or police at the scene? Did the police take him downtown for an interview?
We’ll just have to wait until the USAO acts, if they do.
Thank you Commentator. In the segment there was mention of convening a Grand Jury… I can only pray. Thanks
Here is a victim’s story about a home invasion and attempted manslaughter involving Damon Wint in New York State. Wint spent just 89 DAYS incarcerated!!
Unfathomably, it is possible to prevent previous criminal indictments and trials from ever being considered at trial despite the fact it clearly shows Damon Wint’s typical rabid animal MO.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/dc-mansion-murder-suspects-stabbing-victim-recalls-deadly/story?id=31672670
I saw CNN’s report as well as was a little surprised, but then maybe not. It seems that many on this blog are convinced of Wallace’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based solely on speculation and some “facts” that have been presented here and WANT him to be guilty. I’m quite sure that LE has been on this case expeditiously and knows far more than we ever will. Reporters often have inside contacts with LE, and I’m inclined to believe that the reports is true, and that while LE may still be interested in Wallace, he’s not a suspect.
Sleuth has pointed out the “evidence” against Wallace, but even all together, there’s not much there and would certainly not stand up to scrutiny in a trial, assuming it ever got that far, and past the grand jury, which has been convened:
“Admits to having via text to half-wit Ashley HALF the extorted money. HALF!! Shown in TWO bundles of cash equaling $20K” First, how do we know that Ashley is a “half-wit”? Has she even been interviewed by the media? For all we know, she could be a Rhodes scholar with a penchant for racing. The fact that the pic contained only half of the money (can someone post a link to that pic? Have we seen it?) really is not much IMO, either by itself or together with the other ‘evidence”.
“Found with Mosler registration in his backpack in his car.” Expired for two years. Not worth anything. Could’ve been carrying it to boast to friends about how he got to drive the car, or knows the guy who owns it: “Here, let me show you this…”
“Lied about how he got the money, when he got the money, and when or if SS instructed him to get the money.” “Lied” is a word that LE used from day one and it has spread like wildfire here and on most other media. That doesn’t make it true. Maybe he simply misspoke, as a result of confusion, duress, being upset, knowing that he was being suspected since he was just at that house earlier the same day, having a couple interrogators bearing down on you for a reply… I’ve never been in that position but I’m sure they make it quite uncomfortable and don’t give you much opportunity to think before you speak.
“Had some sort of issue with young Phillip or Mr. S for replacing him with another driver / tutor for Phillip.” Who said so? Only other commenters on this thread. There’s no evidence of this in any of the reports I’ve read from people who knew the family. How do we know that it wasn’t Wallace that introduced Savvas and Phillip to the pro race car driver? Again, many of us here are connecting “dots” that may not exist merely because we WANT Wallace to be guilty.
“US passport found in his backpack…when he had been on the job only three weeks. Who takes or is goes out of country vacation only THREE WEEKS after starting a new job?” This is evidence? Because one carries a passport in their backpack? Because you might lose yours if you carried it and thus no one should carry theirs? As Spanish pointed out, he was planning to race in Italy..we don’t know that Savvas and Philip weren’t perhaps planning to go with him.
“His BMW parked a block AWAY from Savopoulos home. WHY?? And how was he getting around all the way to Chantilly? On a bike?” I’ve questioned this too, and I suspect there’s a logical answer here that no of us are privy to at this time.
“Person who resembles JORDAN WALLACE seen running away from church parking lot after torching the car.” “Resembles?” The person also resembles thousands of other men (and women) in the greater DC area; one can’t even be certain of the gender of that person let alone have any certainty of who it is.
“Wallace and Wint were neighbors…they had to know each other. If all that leads LE to remove JW from the person of interest category, im moving to Canada!” Who said they were neighbors? Even Nate’s article mentioned that the parents lived close by, but we don’t know that for sure about Wint and Wallace. Heck, there are people in my own building that I don’t know.
Those of us on here clearly have an interest in this case and in seeing justice meted out. But I also think we sometimes let our emotions get the best of us and draw conclusions of guilt based on no or flimsy evidence. I also think we’ll find out the details soon enough and they’ll probably be things/people we haven’t even considered yet, like the two women mentioned in the CNN story.
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/06/04/police-search-car-savopolous-assistant/28493037/
Tim, since you are a logical (and consider all possibilities) thinker, let me pose some additional reasons to why Wallace could be involved.
It has already been established that Wallace was to meet the AIW Accountant early Thursday morning. No details (in the press) have been given about their appointed time/meeting place, so all we have to go by, is Wallace’s statements to the police, that have to date been reported.
Wallace says that the accountant handed him cash that was placed in a manilla envelope. Wallace changes his story from the get-go. First he said that he saw the accountant pull out the cash form his pockets, hand it to him, then he (Wallace places it in red bank bags). Later, he said that the cash was already in red bank bags and handed to him to put in the manilla envelope. I also saw stories where he even got the location mixed up. One story had him going to the bank, meeting with Accoutant inside, where another story said that he didn’t go inside, yet a third story said that he met the Account at AIW.
To me, the confusion surrounding those important details wouldn’t exist, if you were telling the truth. It is a known fact that LE will ask a witness to repeat his/her story from front to back, from the middle, or from back to front, to see if their story remains consistent.
Wallace took a picture of the cash and texts it to his GF Ashley and others at 9:00 a.m.. I wonder if one of those “other’s” was Savvas?
Wallace text’s Savvas at 10:26 a.m., stating that the “package has been delivered.” Did it REALLY take 1.5 hours from the time that Wallace flashed a pic of the cash to make the drop-off?
Look at the video link that I attached above. At the 35 second mark, look over at the reporter shoulder’s to get a good look at the garage/driveway. NOTICE that there is an empty parking space behind the red car, even though it has been pulled out some.
The crime scene doesn’t appear to be “altered” unless the Mosler was pulled out a bit.
The question that comes to my mind is this: Why would Wallace have to park 1 block away for
just a quick drop off of a package? Wouldn’t ANY reasonable person, especially one that needed to be at his job site in Chantilly, (30 miles away) in rush hour traffic, want to get in/out as quickly as possible and be on their way????
Also, there is the question of Wallace’s car. LE found it parked a block away, HOURS after the murders took place. For sake of argument, lets start the clock at 1:24 p.m., the time that the house fire was reported/called in. Hours later, might make the time his car was discovered at 3:24 p.m.; 4:24 p.m.; 5:24 p.m.; etc. There was enough SUSPICION, that LE got a search warrant issued to comb through it the next day! I wonder if it was left at the same spot overnight?
Wouldn’t a reasonable person want to know where Wallace was without his car? A person of Wallace’s description (black man with short, well groomed hair) was seeing driving a car like Amy’s (we already know that Amy’s car was last seen parked on the street at 10:30 a.m) erratically down New York Avenue around 1:30 p.m. heading toward Maryland.
For the above stated reasons, I have a HARD time believing that Wallace was the dutiful assistant that he claims to be. The details and timeline (as we know them) do not convince me (at this time) that Wallace was merely doing his job and nothing more!
Thanks for your reply Clue Bird, and I fully expected my comments would rankle some on this site. Again, I was of the mindset myself that Wallace was involved when WUSA9 reported his name and his connections two weeks ago. But as new info comes out, I’m not so sure anymore, and it seems that LE isn’t so sure either, and they have a lot more to go on than any of us here do.
As I think I’ve stated before: Consider for a moment that he’s NOT guilty and had no part in this crime, but because of his being there at the house that morning, he in indirectly involved. Now LE is questioning him downtown in an interrogation room. He knows the people who he just recently began working for (but has likely known for a few months, from his previous employment at Autobahn) are now dead – murdered – and he was there that morning. He has two, maybe three detectives asking questions non-stop, backwards and forwards, as you said. He didn’t have anyone else there with him, so he’s intimidated, flustered, upset, scared, emotional. You get the picture. I probably wouldn’t be able to think clearly either under those conditions.
Do we know that the pic of the cash was taken at 9 am? I’ve not seen a link to that pic, if it exists. Even if it exists and even if he took 1.5 hours to deliver it, what does that mean? He was probably paid by the day or by the job, and not by the hour, on a clock.
I was at the scene on that Thursday evening when there were lots of news crews and onlookers around, but the street from both directions was taped off. (I recall seeing white sheets strung behind an ambulance in front of the house as sort of a makeshift curtain, which suggested to me that the bodies were still on scene, a fact corroborated by later news stories.) I was back there on that Saturday, May 16, on my bike (I live in Logan and use my bike to get around town a lot) and was surprised that I was able to ride past both the front and the side of the house. I don’t recall seeing a Mosler in the garage then or on subsequent times I’ve been past. Not saying it positively wasn’t there, but I think I would’ve noticed it. Instead, I drew from news reports that the red car being discussed was the red Audi convertible. In fact, I don’t know that any of the news sources have reported the car where the cash was to be dropped was the Mosler; can someone correct me on that and send a link? I sure can’t see it in the video link that CB attached. The three cars there in this video were the same three that I’d always seen there, and indeed were the only three shown being driven away a couple weeks ago (which were subsequently returned, surprisingly, when I drove past yet again after they were removed).
Re Wallace’s car, where it was parked and why and the Porsche: There’s clearly some missing pieces here that we’re not privy to. I thought the car was last seen being driven away from the house at 10:30 by neighbors and witnessed shortly thereafter on NY Avenue. I initially thought that was pretty damning against Wallace (and still do, somewhat) being that he has “short, well-groomed hair”, and I’ve surmised that IF he was part of this plot, then perhaps he drove the Porsche to Chantilly and then back to New Carrolton where he torched it. But, would he have driven the Porsche to Chantilly where he likely knew Nelly was working, at the martial arts center? How might he have explained that? Maybe he drove his BMW there and back, and parked a block away from the scene because that’s about as close as he could get. I’m even wondering if/how LE “recovered” his car there, or if he simply told them that’s where it was and they went and confiscated it. Or are we left to believe that LE was running the plates on every car that was parked in the neighborhood that day on the off chance there may be a connection? I think so much of what we hear and believe is attributed to semantics (e,g,.”recovered”), and the power that certain words have. I also know some reports are inconsistent or may be even just plain false. For example, some reports were saying the pizzas were paid for by credit card, presumably by Amy over the phone, yet quite a few others were reporting that cash was left in an envelope on the porch. Which was it, and are the news crews making up their own facts that we’re taking at face value?
We’re all clearly very vested and interested in this case as evidenced by the sheer fact that we’re on this blog. I’m certainly not meaning to belittle anyone’s point of view, but rather playing devil’s advocate and potentially shooting holes in other theories, and welcome those challenges to what I’ve offered. I also think that many on here have let their emotions control their thinking and thus want to see Wallace be a part of this. But as I’ve said, LE (I hope) knows what they’re doing and has a lot more info than we do.
It has been reported by the Washington Post that police reports show Wallace texted the picture of the money to his girlfriend at 9 a.m. Thursday. Here is the quote. “Police will not say why Wallace had two versions of his account. Text messages found by police and obtained by The Washington Post show that Wallace sent a text to Savopoulos at 8:30 p.m. May 13: “Got your message, I’ll call you once I get the package.”
The next day, police said, Wallace texted and called several people, including a woman to whom he sent a photo of the red bag and money at 9 a.m. “Daaaamn,” the woman responded. “I wonder how much it is?” Wallace responded, “40,” to which the woman texted back, “Jesus.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-say-cell-phones-stolen-from-slain-savopoulos-family/2015/06/03/13185622-0a11-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html.
Thanks for copy of the source preisteres marietje.
I did a little calculation on Map Quest and found the following:
From AIW Company Headquarters: 5010 Inwood Street, Hyattsville MD (where the cash was said to have been given to Wallace by the accountant)
to The Savopoulos family home: 3201 Woodland Drive, Washington D.C.
It would take anyway between 29-34 minutes in moderate-heavy traffic to go from point A to point B.
US-50 W to Massachusetts Ave NW 9.06 miles
23 mins / 34 mins based on current traffic
US-50 W to Franklin St NE 9.17 miles
27 mins / 27 mins based on current traffic
US-50 W 8.77 miles
21 mins / 29 mins based on current traffic
If we use Ashley Barrett’s phone pic (of the cash that Wallace texted her)
as a time stamp, Wallace had possession of the money by 9:00 a.m., perhaps a few minutes before, if you count the time it took to walk to his car, whip out his phone, take the picture and text it to her.
Another verifiable time stamp is Wallace’s text to Savvas which occurred at 10:24 a.m.
From my calculations, if there are no other time stamps to indicate that Wallace dropped off the money sooner, it took 1 hour and 24 minutes to deliver the cash, when it should have take 35 minutes max! 49 minutes is a lot of time to
be dilly-dallying around, not getting the cash to your boss, who witness(s) say that he wanted it for an auction, that day.
Also, I can’t imagine Wallace wasting ANY time, if he was requested to help out at the Martial Arts Center before the Grand Opening ~ 5/15/15!
Therein lies the problem Tim…..we are looking at news sources (TV interviews; excerpts from interviews; online newspapers) to glean verified facts.
Thank you for pointing out that the “red car” is an Audi, not the red Mosler! I too assumed it was the Mosler, although I questioned the prudence of storing it at the family home.
You wrote that “Do we know that the pic of the cash was taken at 9 am? I’ve not seen a link to that pic, if it exists.” I believe that this fact (the 9:00 a.m. cash possession) was verified by the girl friend’s Ashley Barrett’s phone. She showed her phone to LE, and then is when they discovered the picture that Wallace had sent to her & others.
“Even if it exists and even if he took 1.5 hours to deliver it, what does that mean?”, you wrote.
To me, it means alot, especially if I really believed that my boss was going to be at an auction that day. Most auction houses: Liquity Services, Inc; Storage Auctions D.C., and Weschlers typically begin the auctions at 9:00 a.m. I did see one ~ Storage Auctions DC, that opens at 9:30 a.m.. I don’t know if you ever been to an auction, but they start early. Weschlers, for instance post their auctions days/week(s) before they actually occur, to gander public interest. Some auctions will even list the items and post pictures. Any good buyer would want to get a jump on other competitive buyers and go early, to access the merchandise, before bidding. Which brings me to my main point: Would directing cash to be dropped off after 9:00 a.m. be a move that a savvy businessman would make? If anything, he would have wanted to go early, not later in the morning, after the auction started.
’You further surmised that “IF he was part of this plot, then perhaps he drove the Porsche to Chantilly and then back to New Carrolton where he torched it. But, would he have driven the Porsche to Chantilly where he likely knew Nelly was working, at the martial arts center?” It has already been established (I have it posted on this thread somewhere) that Nelly wasn’t working at the Center on Thursday (She did work there Wednesday). Savvas mother called Nelly after learning about the fire and Nelly was cleaning at another family’s house.
To me the most damning evidence for/against Wallace will be A) if neighbors/eye witnesses can verify that Wallace’s car was parked in the neighborhood before the murders/fire.
B) Wallace’s outgoing phone calls. Savvas last called Wallace at 11:54 a.m. and he didn’t answer any calls after that time. Did, Wallace attempt to call him back, and if so, how much time elapsed?
C) Who was the AIW employee that notified Wallace of the fire? (The Accountant/Nelly) What time was that call/text made?
No, I don’t get rankled Tim when you, Jana, or others question my logic/thinking!
In fact, it motives me more to think about things and what to keep, and what to eliminate!
Carry on!!!
CB: LOL! Glad to know you’re not bothered by my poking holes.
I’m not even sure where this whole auction thing originated from, or that SS was going to an auction at 9 or even 10 am on Thursday. Did that come from Nelly?
And thank you for correcting me that she was not due to be at Chantilly on Thursday.
Tim, excellent points and analysis. I, too, at this point am far from convinced JW was involved.
You noted, ” . . . Maybe he simply misspoke, as a result of confusion, duress, being upset, knowing that he was being suspected since he was just at that house earlier the same day, having a couple interrogators bearing down on you for a reply… I’ve never been in that position but I’m sure they make it quite uncomfortable and don’t give you much opportunity to think before you speak.”
I will say that I have put quick stops to that type of questioning when it has degenerated into that type of interrogation. We’re done here! This interview is over! LOL! Hell that bad behavior is used with witnesses as well as suspects. It absolutely does lead to confusion both with the person being questioned AND with the questioner. Often they will talk over each other in a rapid fire style and if there is an answer, you can’t tell which question it was an answer to. It is especially a counterproductive technique with witnesses who you turn into enemies when you really need their help. As I’ve mentioned before, until and unless we see the video of JW’s interview(s) we cannot know if the police are accurate in their characterization of JW’s answers.
As someone who lives not far from the scene of the crime and who has had to travel all over the DC area at all times of the day and night, I can assure you there is no way in hell anyone is getting from Hyattsville to Woodland in less than an hour. Especially not during morning rush hour or its immediate after-hour. Do we even know when he started out for DC? Knowing the time he had the money in his possession still doesn’t tell us when he started off. Maybe he took a leak first. Do we even know if any urgency was conveyed in getting the money to the house in a hurry?
As I queried upthread, I don’t know when the police started talking to JW. It might have been at the scene and they took him downtown. He would have told them he used the car in the delivery and where he left it parked. He may have even given them permission to take it into custody and tow it so it could be searched. On Friday they walked over to Superior Court and got a search warrant – even if JW had given permission to search his car it was the prudent and safer course to secure a warrant first. “Permissions” can be later challenged as coerced or improperly induced.
I appreciate everyone’s input and ideas. It all makes for a lively discussion.
Jana, I appreciate your attitude of not coming to a conclusion so early on regarding the guilt or innocence of JW. But aside from the fact that he admitedly lied to police, there are other things that are just off. For instance:
IF, JW is completely innocent of any wrongdoing, would he not have sent a text to Mr. S that Thursday? ” Mr. S? Is everything okay? The contractors / vendors/ Nelly are here at the Dojo and said you had an appointment. Or you had to approve the mats, or you had to open up??” Something along those lines.
Also, there is no way in heaven, that I during my tenure as a PA would have just dropped off $40K in cash, and left casually on the front seat of my bosses car. I’d say, ” why on the seat of the car? I thought this was for the Dojo? Don’t you want me to drive you to the auction? Is everything okay Mr. S? ”
And if all was kosher between JW and SS, why was JW not doing his normal routine for SS? Why was he going to the hardware store? For supplies for the Dojo? Did he drop off said supplies at the Dojo? JW was fully aware as SS’s assistant that the martial arts studio was opening in a few days. Everyone was working on it: Nelly,. SS and others.
Would’nt JW have had to be there that day? Are there text messages between SS and JW with Jordan saying: “Mr. S, what do you want me to do now? What time shall I pick you up? etc”
Common sense says conversations similar to that should have been going on during a normal workday for JW.
Tim, as someone who started out my career here in Los Angeles as a personal assistant to a Grammy winning singer i(1992-1993) and traveled the planet for theI press junket for his album Symphony or Damn, I can say that I was back and forth at his residence. All day long. Usually would park my car in the driveway, run in – drop something off / pick something up. Never- even during days when there was street cleaning- never did I park a block away from the residence. It seems that the Savopoulos family had an ample driveway, plenty of street parking and no apparent street cleaning that day. So why the need to park his ( JW) only mode of transportation one block away from the residence.? And why was it left there? Hours after the crime? In what vehicle was JW driving that he could afford to leave his car at his bosses home? Albeit, a block away from his recently murdered boss?
If you can adequately answer that question, Robin Fricker might have a job for you.
I sure wouldn’t want to work for that blowhard.
I think I already addressed my logic about Wallace and his car in my post at 9:46 this morning.
Tim:
Those are some very intriguing debate points since we know LE is being very tight-lipped about the forensic discovery concerning this case, thus far. This may be to keep it from turning into a total 3-ring circus spectacle which often creates lots of mistakes wasting time chasing false leads. Robin Ficker is a blowhard. So, we at least indisputably agree on that point…. progress, right??
The various agencies working on this matter are not going to leave a single stone left unturned in securing the alleged accomplices behind bars. As you mentioned, contradictory and misleading reporting leads to incorrect speculation and invalidated assumptions. Usually, once LE arrest suspects they generally do not release them and then focus on them again later, unless, of course, they are being surveilled to see watch their activities to cover up their steps.
Yet, it alarms me that we still do not even know the identities of those two female unnamed suspects who laundered the ca$h and are now the focus of LE’s quest to apprehend any accomplices. I firmly believe burner phones were used by the assailants and accomplices… and once those mobiles are zeroed in on this case will be blown wide open!
Jordan Wallace’s situation with the money makes him very, very culpable to insider information and he LIED…. the multiple versions of his activities were too distinct and far apart to have been caused by a case of the ‘nerves’…. isn’t he a race car driver… cool and steady at the wheel. Yet, you have suggested he was a nervous wreck and could not handle the questions?? Sorry….but, I am refuse to buy into that train of logic. Jordan Wallace ADMITTED he LIED…. why would he lie unless he needed to cover his tracks???
However, in response to your specific question about Jordan Wallace not picking up the cell call from Savvas Savopoulos…. LE has stated he TEXTED Amy S. AFTER the fire started to inform her the mansion was on fire and ask if she was okay?? If I were an investigator, this would not make sense to me because he did not contact his boss about the residence in flames… instead his texted his boss’s wife??? How odd.
Sorry, but, imo…. this was very amateurish attempt at CYA since he was not even near the mansion at the time. Sooo… who informed him of the fire??
And, I would really like to know why on gods green earth he would think to reach out to Amy S. – but, not his employer about the fire??? Bizarre!
Also, there are notable timeline gaps between certain times of the morning before Jordan Wallace was seen on surveillance video inside a hardware store in Chantilly, VA. What did he drive to get there since his BMW was spotted parked on a street a block away from the residence?? What vehicle did he use to get there?? What time was the Porsche on fire? Could he have driven to the mansion, picked up the Porsche, sped to Chantilly and turned around and torched the vehicle?? By what mode of transportation did Wint arrive at the mansion and subsequently leave the area?? Was the Chevy Cruze his getaway vehicle… or, perhaps, the box truck???
Does CCTV pick up any of these other vehicles on video near the scene??
And, yes, innocent until proven guilty under the law, but not necessarily in the court of public opinion. We are anxious to solve a crime without all the missing puzzle pieces.
So, we ask question and hope for solid answers so the proper punishments can be meted out to the right ones involved.
Yet, Jordan Wallace must still be a ‘person of interest’…. there is no way he has been completely eliminated from the roster of suspects in this massive of a home invasion quadruple homicide conspiracy.
Wonder what forensics found on the BMW arm rests that they were removed from the vehicle, instead of simply dusted for prints?? Despite what this anonymous source or that unnamed source may tell media… Jordan Wallace still sounds super fishy to me.
BUT, he may be a perfectly innocent much maligned altar boy who is under a siege of questions simply because he was the LAST contact by Savvas Savopoulos before the horrific and senseless quadruple homicide which still remains a mystery.
Watching 20/20 shortly…. would very much like to hear if the N. Guitterez has any further contradictory statements to make on network TV.
Tim, Circumstantial evidence is frequently a strong indicator of a person’s involvement in a crime. Both before and after-the-fact. Circumstantial evidence is frequently enough to warrant arrest.
Most personal assistants who work solely for 1 employer are on salary, not hourly. Personal assistants who are paid by the hour are part-time and have more than 1 client/employer.
Paperwork new and expired for any vehicle, has sensitive private information. There wouldn’t be any reason for Jordan to be in possession of it. Criminals can use expired drivers licenses, old expired credit cards, expired passports, old vehicle registrations in a variety of nefarious ways. Jordan used social media to brag about his closeness to wealth and privilege. I don’t believe the Mosler’s expired paperwork a form of bragging rights but I’m completely open to being wrong about anything I think, or believe about this case.
We do know that Jordan was NOT the person who introduced Savvas and Philip to the professional racer who had been hired January 2015 as Philip’s new trainer. I will try to find the article where the friend of Savvas, recalls referring him to the pro car racer, who Savvas hired as Philip’s coach.
I wonder why, with all the wonderful acts of kindness the Savopouloses did for Jordan. All the amazing things they shared with him…..I can’t help but wonder why Jordan did not attend the funeral service?
If Jordan has not been arrested he is free to travel wherever he likes. You cannot claim he’s innocent, and then claim LE has told him not to leave town? Even if he were a person of interest (to my knowledge he’s never been named as such), he is free to travel anywhere at anytime.
Why isn’t he going to compete in Italy? I am surprised because he’s 28 years old. If he wants to go pro he needs to grab every racing opportunity he can now.
Jordan Wallace is presumed innocent very true. Damon Wint is also presumed innocent, right Tim?
Thanks for your post Treya.
I agree that circumstantial evidence is frequently enough to warrant an arrest, except when it’s not. It’s been a month now, and now there’s indication that LE doesn’t think he was complicit. I have to believe they’ve scoured for a connection before reaching that conclusion.
There’s no sensitive, private information on a vehicle registration – only the owner’s name, address, vehicle description and VIN. All public information. No SSN, DOB, etc. Not even how much was paid for the car.
I suspect that he didn’t show up at the funeral knowing that doing so would create a spectacle, with all the news crews in the area, etc. That was 11 days ago, and the information toward him at that time was much more damning. He hasn’t even been seen in public anywhere since the murders, much less at the victims’ funerals.
You don’t see me raising questions about Wint’s involvement; the fact that he left his mark on the pizza is enough evidence for me, and my guess is they have more – hairs, fingerprints, etc. There’s physical evidence tying him to the scene whereas with Wallace, it’s all circumstantial.
Just for clarification, the CNN “source” said that they didn’t believe Jordan was complicit but that have not reached that conclusion. (Though it seems like a self-contradictory statement, it did end with the thought that they are not satisfied that he is innocent.
What was Wint’s reason for kidnapping and murdering the victims? Why were Philip’s injuries much more severe than the others. I don’t mean why as in cause and effect of method used but the psychology behind the over-the-top stabbings, possible dismemberment, and being set on fire (I heard and read while still alive but as with the dismemberment, waiting for autopsy report). But we do know Philip was burned “beyond recognition” – why Philip? It’s very strange when a perp, who claims he was “only” robbing his victims attacks, tortures, and murders a child in the process. Philip did not know Wint.
And that brings me to – would Savvas really know Wint? Did Savvas deal with day to day human resource responsibilities at American Iron Works or did he for the short time that Wint worked for AIW? Because if Savvas did not deal with day to day human resource tasks, I don’t know why he would know Wint, especially 10 years after he was fired, let go, or quit.
The media was extremely respectful during the funerals for the family. I didn’t see or hear of anyone being harassed. Or media doing anything which created a circus-like-atmosphere. I don’t believe they would have even if he’d attended. I don’t believe Jordan chose not go because of media. But if true he had another option to show his respects. Jordan could have attended the wake on Sunday, May 31st which was inside St. Sophia’s Church but chose not to do so. Why?
About the expired registration. To my knowledge vehicle registrations do have sensitive information. There are hidden numbers encoded in the vin#. And the vin# is stamped in secret places all over the vehicle. The only way to know the hidden numbers if to read the actual vin# tag, or to have current or expired registration paperwork. And I would think with a unique and expensive vehicle like a Mosler they’re even more creative with vin# secrecy.
Do you, or does anyone know, what Jordan’s work day was to be that Thursday? Was he just to drop off the money and go to the hardware store in Chantilly?
Does anyone know if Jordan said he thought it was strange that Savvas had requested this money to be dropped off and left in the garage/in one of the cars? Or did Jordan say he’d dropped off money, left it somewhere (did not personally give to Savvas)
Does anyone know if the story about the auction is for real?
Has anyone heard who the other people (other than Wint’s brother) were who were arrested, along with Wint, but then released?
Still a lot of questions.
For the record:
I think the video of the person running in the church parking lot looks more like Wint, than Wallace.
I have to wonder, if Wallace is a con-conspirator, wouldn’t he have told LE by now? It’s been 3 weeks since Wint’s arrest. Shouldn’t he be singing by now?
Treya, you wrote: “Have to wonder, if Wallace is a con-conspirator, wouldn’t he have told LE by now? It’s been 3 weeks since Wint’s arrest. Shouldn’t he be singing by now?”
The law says that we are PRESUMED innocent until PROVEN guilty.
If I were Wallace, I would put a muzzle on my mouth and not talk to anyone except my legal counsel. Wallace’s father, a retired police officer, has probably already advised him about his rights and who/whom not to talk to.
Unless LE had some hard evidence against him, he would be best served, doing what he is doing and that is keep quiet, go dark, and lay low, until the grand jury makes their decision in who needs to be tried.
Plenty of criminals make deals to give info on their co-conspirators. I find it odd that Wint has not yet turned. But I hope no deal can be made in this crime and that it becomes a federal case so the death penalty can be applied.
Do we know if Nelly was at the funeral?
Nate & Fellow Sleuths,
Has anyone by chance looked at Jordan Wallace & Daron Wint’s FB & other social media accounts to see
if they were “friends”/”followers”? I would think that LE has already thought of this.
Many “friends”, “friends of friends” view others’ posts/threads, without commenting, or liking. People would be surprised to find out who really views their pictures/information on social media!
Treya, you wrote:
‘Most personal assistants who work solely for 1 employer are on salary, not hourly. Personal assistants who are paid by the hour are part-time and have more than 1 client/employer.’
And,
‘I wonder why, with all the wonderful acts of kindness the Savopouloses did for Jordan. All the amazing things they shared with him…..I can’t help but wonder why Jordan did not attend the funeral service?’
Two extremely good points! If JW was innocent of any complicity in this heinous crime, he would have gone to the funerals. I am reminded of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. The guilty heart always outs itself. On another note, most PA’s of high-profile people do not have multiple clients and are paid a salary.. it is not an hourly gig. You are on call 24/7. Whether you are in a foreign country or at home. And when I say 24/7 I mean exactly that. 10:30 pm ” Can you go pick up Clockwork Orange at Blockbuster on Sunset and bring up here( Nichols Canyon) .. now?” Mind you, this is when we still had Blockbuster.
And as someone who has traveled literally all over the world ( I’ve on my fifth US Passport) I can assure you that you do not carry such a valuable item around all day with you. In a purse, wallet or backpack. Especially when you have a big event coming up in a foreign country in the not too distant future! My passport is safely tucked away with my birth certificate and Social Security card. Getting a passport replaced isn’t as easy as it used to be. Post 9/11 the background checks et cetera can delay a passport for literally weeks and there is no guarantee that you could get it replaced in time for travel.
Sleuth: My point about Wallace being a personal assistant not in a hurry to get to Chantilly (the question was asked why it took 1.5 hours to get to Chantilly was just that – that he wasn’t on the clock and therefore not in a hurry. He may have stopped at Starbuck’s first. That he took that long is not relevant unless there’s more incriminating information for the prosecutor.
And I’ve also traveled around the world (on my 4th passport, as they’re valid for 10 years), and have no immediate plans to travel internationally, yet it’s in my backpack right now under my desk at work. I don’t regularly lose my driver’s license or cell phone; why is there this worry that one will lose their passport? No one knows it’s in my backpack except me.
Treya: I thought you were off to the beach sans iPad. Couldn’t stay away from the thread, huh?! It is very compelling, I agree.
True Sleuth. We’re leaving this evening. Had hoped to leave much earlier. 🙁 I have our DVR ready to record this evening’s 20/20. I cannot believe the horrific crimes Wint is responsible for and how lightly he was sentenced each and every time. People are thrown in prison for years for non-violent drug offenses but this monster didn’t set of any alarms. The pattern of depravity and disrespect for life is very evident.
About the passport. I travel out of the country every 2 years. Maybe that’s not often enough for me to have it with me 24/7.
I’ve had a backpack stolen in NYC (with passport & cash) and then a handbag stolen in DC (with wallet, money & credit cards). So I no longer carry my passport except when I’ve travelling abroad. If it was only $30 bucks to replace, it wouldn’t matter. But it’s something like $140 replacement fee. If you’ve never been mugged then you may not understand how you feel victimized twice when applying for new id, new credit cards, buying new wallet and new bag etc…..All money I’d rather spend in a different way.
Someday soon I hope to live in a safer place than Washington, DC. But until then – I carry as little as possible – and rarely ever carry expensive purses, or wear jewelry when walking/biking/using public transit.
Sorry meant Tim! Leaving for Wilmington Beach after rush hour. hope everyone has a wonderful and crime-free weekend. 🙂
Do we know for a fact that Nelly was at the funeral service?
Yes it was reporte in media that housekeeper #2 Nelly was at the funeral.
Commentator, Clue Bird, Treya and Spanish:
ABC’s 20/20 running a piece on Savopolous crime tonight. Maid #2 interviewed. Here is the latest from today’s Daily Mail UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3121687/Mysterious-voicemail-CEO-D-C-mansion-murders-maid-told-stay-home-day-family-killed.html
Thanks Sleuth!
Thanks Tim, we are on the same page re; JW – based on the information that has been reported in the Media -folks are sayin ” he’s guilty’ – he probably has received death threats – so it would behoove him to go into hiding- at this time- not speaking to the media and not attending the funeral.
Another odd observation about Wallace not showing much immediacy to his boss’ time:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-investigating-package-filled-with-cash-dropped-off-at-door-of-slain-family/2015/05/20/a100af9e-ff07-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html
If Wallace was actually WORKING at the Martial Arts-Dojo Center; then why did he take his sweet time returning Savvas’ call? The above cited article said that Savvas tried calling Wallace at 11:54 a.m., but Wallace didn’t return the call until 106 minutes (1 hr 46 minutes) later @ 1:40 p.m.! The article further states that Savvas employees the day before had been rushing to complete it.
Savvas left at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, an hour before he initially had planned, for he told Nelly that he was going to continue working until 7 p.m.. Because he already shaved off an hour from his planned work schedule, the day before, isn’t there reason to think that there was still more work to be done?
It will be interesting to find out how fast Wallace returned to the family home, since he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to drive to Chantilly; answer his boss’ call, the earlier part of the day!
Clue Bird, thanks for researching and mapping possible routes JW could have taken to the house after picking up the money. It really helps to have someone who is local provide this info.
Clue Bird you make an excellent point! One of many. JW working as a PA for Mr. S during an important time as the dojo opening … every call from SS at the point was important! Can you imagine ignoring your bosses call for almost two hours? Why? When Wallace knew that Mr. S was in the middle of the opening, would he completely disregard a call from his boss for nearly two hours? And he was just hired? You could be fired for that. Another important piece to the puzzle. Thanks Clue Bird. Jordan Wallace did not return the call cause it was probably from Wint.. trying to keep Wallace’s alibi seemingly alive while the S family was likely being killed. I think that was part of the deal between Wint and Wallace. Wallace tells Wint, ” Hey, I’m gonna hook you up, give you the plan, the schedule, the layout- everything. But you have to back me up by texting me bullshit messages, calling me when I’m far away from the house on Savvas’ phone. Deal?
Sleuth,
The other question that I have been thinking about is who else was working at the Martial Arts Center besides Wallace on Thursday?
It would be interesting to know how the day went and what Wallace’s responsibilities were? Maybe Wallace is the type of worker who likes to run errands, so he can disappear for awhile. He could have easily went somewhere (both Wednesday & Thursday) to use a burner phone, away from the earshot of others. I read somewhere that Wallace left the Center At 3:30 pm on Wednesday (when the other workers were working hard to get everything done). Savvas had told Amy that he was planning on working until 7 p.m, before he was called at 5:00 p.m. to come home earlier than planned.
Interesting how Savvas was called home 90 minutes later, after Wallace left at 3:30 p.m.
I don’t know what Wallace’s involvement was, but it seems that he is tied in with Wint because of living in the same neighborhood(s), and where the Porsche was found…. In familiar surroundings! The DC area is very expansive, so having activity occurring the same day in two different places (the family’s home & the church parking lot) doesn’t fit the profile of randomness among TWO strangers, who supposedly don’t know one other!
Clue Bird wrote:
If Wallace was actually WORKING at the Martial Arts-Dojo Center; then why did he take his sweet time returning Savvas’ call? The above cited article said that Savvas tried calling Wallace at 11:54 a.m., but Wallace didn’t return the call until 106 minutes (1 hr 46 minutes) later @ 1:40 p.m.! The article further states that Savvas employees the day before had been rushing to complete it.
I agree. I think the lag in time responding to Savvas’ call is odd for someone being paid as a personal assistant and driver. But maybe he was not very good in this position? He was new to this job.
About the drive time from Hyattsville to Woodland Drive NW, DC around 9:30 am on Thursday, May 14th. 1 hour is totally possible because of traffic and construction between the two locations. I don’t know if 1.5 hrs is out-of-the-ordinary. I personally think it completely possible without any nefarious meaning.
IF you believe Jordan Wallace’s account (and I DON’T, because of the fact that he does not tell the truth about his actions involving this case) he scurried back to the family’s home immediately upon being told about the fire minutes after the blaze was reported. Some Jordan Wallace defenders (random members of the public like you and me) take his stories as fact–oddly, even the ones he lied about sometimes, and so believe it to be factual that he drove back to the family’s home and had to park a block away because the streets were blocked by first responders. (One note is that Nelly also said that she went immediately to the home after getting the call from Savvas’ mother. So she might have talked to Jordan Wallace at that time and learned from him about the drop off of $40k “for the dojo.” I know there’s a bit of mystery about whether (and if so, when and how) Jordan told Nelly about the drop off. That’s one explanation.
Just to clarify my post, I don’t think it has been reported by LE for sure whether or not Jordan was at the scene of the fire or that he and Nelly spoke to each other there, but it’s a possibility. It’s also possible that Jordan was driving a different car that afternoon and his BMW could have been parked a block away since the morning.
km, Wallace better hope that LE cannot prove it was him driving another car (Amy’s car) after he made the cash drop at 10:24 a.m!
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/05/21/nw-dc-quadruple-homicide/27752071/
is a timeline that STATES that Amy’s car went missing at 10:30 a.m. SIX minutes after Jordan Wallace texted Savvas telling him that “the package has been delivered!”
I agree, Clue Bird. That is very “coincidental” timing, isn’t it? There sure are a lot of coincidences that need explaining. I would really love to know what car Jordan was driving to and from the hardware store. I’d love to know if he did ever run into his past neighbor Wint. I’d love to know exactly how he found out about the fire within minutes. I’d like to know where he was on Weds afternoon after he left the dojo (according to NG at 3:30 PM…but even if he left at 6 with or without Savvas…what did he do that night?). Law enforcement know these things, but they’re not saying, or it has not yet been released. If all of these unfortunate lies and coincidences could be explained away by facts, law enforcement would have reached a conclusion that he is not involved by now.
Pretty sure that the report that the last time the Porsche was seen at around 10:30 came from JW. It was last seen at the house by someone. Not that it was seen leaving the house. Who else would have seen the Porsche at the home, if no one else was there? Just because that was the last time it was seen doesn’t mean it actually left the home at that time. And even if it was a neighbor who reported last seeing it at 10:30 just means that was the last time they saw it. Again, not that they saw it driving away.
He was driving his BMW. He came back to the home and parked a block away because Fire Fighters and other LEO had already blocked off the area. If JW was driving Amy’s Porsche, then people would have noticed that. I have no doubt that when LE says they have verified his alibi that he was at a hardware store and then went to the Martial Arts Studio, they have in fact done that.
I know they have video of him at the hardware store, and got cell phone pings in Chantilly, but I have not heard that LE verified that he actually went to the studio or that he was driving his BMW. I’ve been on the lookout for that. Do you happen to remember where you read/heard that? Beyond reports of Jordan’s account?
Chatter, thank you. I think you have it right.
Your speculation totally discounts eye witnesses who reported seeing
Amy Savopoulos’ Porsche 911 driven very quickly and erratically by a short-haired male. Personally, I am going to stick with what several different bystanders informed LE they had witnessed on the morning of the multiple homicides.
ClueBird, I was asking shouldn’t Wint be singing by now – not Wallace. Maybe Wint is smarter than he looks? Usually when there’s more than 1 criminal involved in a scheme, they quickly being pointing their fingers at one another. I thought that would have happened by now. I’m aware that Wallace’s father is a retired police officer. That may or may not be helpful for him.
Treya, Wint is a psychopath. I’ll bet anything he goes to trial in the face of overwhelming evidence. That’s what defendants like him do. Really he has nothing to lose by going to trial. What deal can they give him that would make any difference in his sentence? None.
Let’s just hope his twisted mind doesn’t start lying and falsely implicating others for the sport and fun of it.
Jana, DA’s make deals all the time. Deals to get information which they claim they could not have obtained any other way.
How do you know nothing could be gained for Wint by making a deal? Are you privv y to legal information about Wint’s pending case?
If the case goes federal (and I believe it will) the death penalty is on the table.
About falsely implicating others – you better believe that’s his lawyer’s MO. He’s requested a list of names of those LE arrested the evening Wint was taken into custody.
@KM – So basically you are questioning whether LE did their jobs? Because if you think you and others have thought of these questions and that LE hasn’t, well then you really need to rethink your opinion of yourself. Just because LE hasn’t answered your questions to your satisfaction does not mean that LE hasn’t answered their own questions. They owe you nothing. The fact is JW has not been named as a POI or anything other than a witness. Until that changes, again LE owes you nothing. If/when his status changes LE will let the public know why.
Take a deep breath, chatter. What you are saying is the exact opposite of what I think. I have the utmost respect for what LE shares and doesn’t share and have no sense of entitlement about what info I should have. I have complete trust that they know what they’re doing. You said they verified that he had been at the studio on Thurs. That would be very good for Jordan if they could verify that because it would mean that he was telling the truth about one of his stated actions in this case. I think the only reason anyone is reading articles or on blogs is because we wish to know more. You’re kind of freaking me out right now,
@Chatter. I’ll also respectfully point out that you are on the blog of a journalist who wrote an article that is ALL ABOUT Jordan. If you are uncomfortable with discussion around whether people think Jordan might involved, you can go to a site like websleuths, where you are not allowed to talk about people involved in the case who are not officially named suspects, even though they have been investigated, and lied about their actions, etc. This blog does not have that rule, so respectfully, back off.
Chatter sounds perfectly calm and logical to me. Not sure why he elicits such a visceral response from you, km.
It is one thing to discuss cases and evidence. It is an entirely different animal to try and convict someone and condemn him to the fires of hell when there is no evidence extant known to the public that links Wallace to the crime. If and when that day comes, that will be another matter.
I fully understand those who want to see real evidence – not mere speculation and fanciful theories – before crucifying some guy for a heinous crime. Even in the comments section of a blog some level of responsible discussion is helpful.
As I mentioned before IF there was ANY evidence that JW was involved he would be arrested. Simple as that. I don’t know why people think he wouldn’t be. Trust me they don’t sit on solid evidence of involvement in a murder case and dilly dally about arresting people. I am sure their investigation continues but I suspect the leak that JW isn’t really a suspect may very well be true.
I’m watching the 20/20 episode now. I think Wint is the muscle and violent one in the mix. But do I believe that he was the mastermind who planned the whole thing? Not for a second. To go to his former employers home…blocks from the Vice President’s residence and break in in broad daylight? Not knowing if there was security or attack dogs or if SS would be at home? Possibly armed with guns? Not a chance. Wint def had some sort of inside info. He knew the schedule, where and how to most easily break in and that he would encounter helpless women and perhaps a child. No real threat there. Someone gave him the layout and the schedule of the victims. And that someone was Jordan Wallace. Wint might be a violent criminal who was familiar to authorities. But what prompted him from going to a menacing and maybe slightly angry thug to a mass murderer all of a sudden? He had help. And that is where Wallace comes in. I suspect Wallace set the whole thing up, promising Wint that there was lots of loot there at the home for the taking. But Wint would’ve never attempted such an egregious crime in broad freaking daylight on his own. Don’t get me wrong, he is a monster. But the brains behind the plot had to be JW. Time will tell.
Sleuth, Wint was obviously obsessed with Savvas and/or Savopoulos family. There’s a lot of writing about psychopaths and what stressors cause them to commit heinous crimes. I believe Wint is not only a psychopath but has other mental health issues that seem to have gone undiagnosed. I’m not making excuses for him, he very obviously knows right from wrong. Or he would not have fled to NYC.
Jordan Wallace is by no means off the alleged accomplice hook. LE always takes a long hard look at the LAST person or persons to have contact with any decedents. You do not have to be publicly named a person of interest to be one, either. It is irrational to think otherwise when JW was the one holding the bag!
In fact, in a multitude of cases, they ARE involved in some manner, way, shape or form. Basic investigative technique #101.
As an example, if one of my pups were sitting on top of a ripped to shreds sofa pillow with a feather stuck in her mouth….is it just circumstantial evidence?? However, if the other one is on the second floor snoring up a storm in his bed, would I be jumping to conclusions to assume I would be correct in ascertaining the LAST one who had contact with the object likely did it?? When we check the nanny cam… proof positive, guilty doggie was the one seen at the scene of the crime.
A-mazing…. how can human intuition be as spot-on accurate as an actual video recording?!?!
No, it’s not magic… it is just simple logical reasoning.
I’m sure many of us watched the 20/20 special last night and in doing so, I came away with a few observations, and a couple things that nag at me.
For one, it seems they could’ve done without Nancy Grace and her unhelpful, overly dramatic comments. Also, I was taken by how they threw the pizza delivery guy under the bus by implying that he should’ve called police because of the strange delivery instructions and darkened house. I’m sure this guys feels bad enough already without having 20/20 add to his misery and feelings of guilt. The dude probably makes minimum wage and tips; he didn’t deserve that.
Mostly I was struck by the fact that Wallace has practically no record, save for some minor traffic offense, unlike Wint who has a long history of violent behavior and whose physical trail was found as the scene. Also disclosed was that SS was the only one of the three adults who was unrestrained; I’m wondered if he somehow was able to break loose. Whatever happened at that point was evidently enough to provoke Wint into a state of rage such that he took to SS with a baseball bat. Amy was likely screaming, provoking Wint even more, which may have resulted in her throat being slit to silence her. On the way out the door, he’d then tossed a lit match into Phillip’s room causing the inferno that was shortly thereafter observed by neighbors/passersby. Phillip’s stab wounds probably were inflicted earlier in an attempt to get SS to cooperate, as has been widely suggested by LE and others; he may have already been dead, despite suggestions that he was burned alive. 50 stab wounds is a lot on a 10 year old body. I’m thinking there may been a lot of provocation on SS’ part after seeing this animal in action and realizing he had to try anything he could to save himself and the others.
I also feel that LE has other info/persons of interest that we’ve not considered yet and when that news comes out we may all be very surprised. In my mind, I’m not letting Wallace off the hook completely, but haven’t seen enough strong evidence to tie him to the crime, although I’ll admit there are some questions about him. He’s probably wise to be laying low as there is a bit of a lynch-mob mentality against him here and elsewhere, which again could explain why he wasn’t at the funeral (in addition to the fact that he’s only been associated with the family for a relatively short time, unlike Nelly who worked for them for 20 years.)
Hi Tim,
I too felt better about Wallace after learning that he doesn’t have a record. Perhaps his only involvement was bragging to others about his connections to Savvas and posting splashy pictures of himself, driving the Savopoulos’ family cars. Posting pictures/ tweets to social media accounts is liken to errecting a giant billboard, many eyes can see it! It has already been established that Wint had an I-Pad, so if he was a Facebook friend of Wallace’s, or any of Wallace’s friends, he too would have been able to see the pics of the cars and anything else Wallace posted!
All Wint and his posse had to do was ask around to who Wallace was NOW working for, do some research on the Internet, obtain the family’s address, observe them from afar, then STRIKE when the man of the house was away!
An astute blogger on this site has already made the observation (she drove past the family’s home) and saw a construction site nearby, where a new house is being built. All Wint and his thugs had to do, was go to Home Depot, purchase $6 protective neon construction vests, and whola, they fit in, they don’t look out of place!
Regarding Savvas’ demeanor, as heard from the audio clip, all I can say is WOW! That man had nerves of steel! His Martial Arts training, most likely gave him the ability to remain calm, in control, and observant! Lao Tzu once said “the best fighter is never angry!” Wint probably allowed Savvas to be untied to fetch things (passwords, jewelry, credit cards, other items of value). My theory is that Savvas took on one of the thugs (when he had the chance) and another thug jumped in and started beating him with the bat, killing him with a fatal blow.
Little Philip may have been unmercifully stabbed because he was crying, making too much noise. I could see a child doing this, especially if he heard his father’s death blows and his mother’s cries and pleas for mercy for him and Vera!
I think the Big Box truck (with NC plates) comes into play as well. All Wint and his accomplices (the women may have helped with this) had to do, was Google the family’s name to realize that the house had Valuable pieces of Art inside. They could have easily waited until dark, and started taking out things from the truck, to the construction site nearby, where the truck could have easily been parked.
Perhaps, this is why LE let them go, but are watching their every move! To see if any of the stolen goods shows up anywhere! The group may have already tried to sell it in NY; Miami, Palm Beach, etc, anywhere wealthy people live and where there are buyers looking for deals on the black market.
Meant to say “take things out of the house to the truck or construction site.”
It’s so true, Tim. Law enforcement are surely turning over every stone and the “insider” that they alluded to could be a business relation who was able to get info about the family to DW. Or DW runs a more sophisticated posse than we’d expect to pull something off like this as outsiders. (Kinda doubt that though.) Not that it can get much worse, but thinking of Dw and his group riding with that truck onto their next gig after DW had participated in such heinous murders, including torturing a little boy, as if it’s “all in a day’s work” is sickening. And somewhere it was reported that he was SHOCKED by the arrest. So sad for that family.
@Jana. You could be right. But it’s really not up to you to tell people what they can and can’t wonder about (or talk about). This is not your or chatter’s courtroom.
Law enforcement has clearly been deeply suspicious of some people. They have many more facts that we don’t know about, and yet there have been no more arrests. So, to you, that means no more arrests, period. (Because that logic would be applied to everyone they are looking at beyond Jordan, right?) I would prefer to wait for law enforcement to say that they have reached the conclusion that certain others are not involved. Because, I assume they are being very strategic on about what they share, when they make arrests as they collect information to make an air tight case as they move forward.
Again, you have it right. But you also could be wrong. You don’t know. I don’t know.
Based on The facts we have, I absolutely speculate that Jordan Wallace was involved on some level. Assuming you have don’t have insider knowledge (you might, for all I know) we are looking at the same sequence of events and facts and responding differently. I am not trying to convince you. But I also am not looking to you to let me know what’s okay to discuss on Nate’s blog. What did you think of his article, btw?
I missed 20/20- trying to find the full episode.
Go to Abcnews.com look at the tab for shows and click on 20/20 or use search tab for Mystery at the Mansion
just a ponder; it appears there was more than 1 individual involved? an insider? just a thought – with the social media craze – one does not have to be a insider to gain information – so many tweet, share, facebook their lives for all to see – without really thinking.
Exactly Vibrant! We live in a virtual world now and people post way too much personal information about themselves and others! Most of the times, bragging, wanting others to look at them, envy them for their beautiful life! In fact, I read a published paper that says many people become depressed after viewing face book, because of the negative emotions that it produces in them!!!!
Commentator, Clue Bird, Treya and Tim and Spanish..
I just had another thought .. I wonder if JW had been actually still working for SS at the time of the murders. Is there any chance that perhaps JW had asked Mr. S to sponsor his racing event in Italy? And that maybe Mr. S said “no”?
I hope detectives are looking into that.. seems to me that would be a very solid motive. And maybe thats why LE in their warrant asked for cell records from May 10- onward. If JW was presumptuous enough to make such a request so early on in his relationship with Mr.S, it could have been a real turn off for Savvas. It would be for me. Someone I’ve known five seconds asks me to endorse them –financially? Actually it happens to me all the time. Neighbors, people at the gym find out I belong to Soho House and ask me for a recommendation! I’m not kidding. They don’t know my last name and I don’t know their first names.So I just stare at them with a blank ( trying to be polite) expression.
So yeah… maybe their work relationship began to sour.. and maybe SS said “no sponsorship.. maybe some other time” and maybe that set JW off. And made him determined to get the money come hell or high water.
Just a random thought…
Sleuth,
I think what you’re thinking is completely plausible however, it’s my understanding that Savvas and Philip knew Jordan Wallace for at least 1 year through the Autobahn. I believe Wallace was Philip’s driving coach for about 1 year. He was replaced by Savvas who was said to have “moved on” from Wallace to professional driver-coach-consultant, Jay Howard.
In March 2015, JW lost his job or quit the Autobahn, contacted Savvas inquiring if he knew of any job position which he’d be a good fit and Savvas offered him the personal assistant/driver job. I believe Wallace started his new position for Savvas in April and in less than 6 weeks, Savvas and others would die senseless tragic deaths.
http://www.nate-thayer.com/race-car-driver-linked-to-suspect-in-washington-savopoulos-murder-whodunit/
https://www.facebook.com/TeamMdd
Clue Bird, I have wondered the same about Jordan Wallace’s interactions at the dojo on Thurs. The weird thing is that, while JW stated to LE that he went to work at the dojo after dropping off the $40k, there have been no reports by law enforcement that he ever made it to the dojo at all on Thursday. Given that LE mentioned the video of him at the hardware store as well as the cell phone pings in the general area as he headed back, you would think they might also say that his working at the dojo was confirmed by another employee who saw him there, etc., but maybe no one did if he wasn’t there.
I hope that someone has confirmed that they saw him there and LE is just holding it close to their chest, because it would be great for him that at least one of his statements about his actions on that day ended up being truthful.
The only verifiable video surveillance of Jordan Wallace’s whereabouts with a day/time stamp was at a hardware store in Chantilly, VA.
Wallace actions (from the facts that have been released) don’t convey someone who had his boss’ best interests in mind. Savvas communicated to Wallace at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, his request for the cash, yet Wallace delivers it mid morning, 1.5 hours after he received it! To me that is off. When LE questioned him when he first was tasked to pick up the cash, Wallace lied and said it was that morning. He didn’t change his story until LE saw texts and calls on Wallace’s phone that indicated otherwise. After he delivers the cash, he goes to Chantilly to give the “appearance” that he is working, yet the only verifiable confirmation is from a security camera in a hardware store, nearby???
The most unusual action occurs when Wallace is supposedly working. Savvas calls him at 11:54 a.m., yet Wallace didn’t return his call until 1:40 p.m., 1 hour and 46 minutes later….yet he shows URGENCY the minute he hears about the fire, texts Amy a weird message and goes immediately to the crime scene?!?
His actions are VERY inconsistent and don’t convey (IMO) a person who was doing his job, and nothing more.
I agree 100%.
C B: Agreed. Just from what has been presented by LE to media thus far,
the critical timeline does not follow any logical pattern, nor does it agree with Jordan Wallace’s own statements.
If he has not turned himself in or is not under protective custody, I found it strange that 20/20 did not obtain an interview with JW since he was the LAST person SS contacted, according to LE reports. That tells me he has reason to be in hiding and his mother’s residence (which is his last known address) is now empty and up for sale.
Also, she did not return to work at her job at a church.
To my mind, if you have absolutely nothing to hide then why not come forward and tell your own version of events to quiet the public uproar?? He would not need to hide from the alleged suspected killer, since Damon Wint is secured behind bars without bail.
I think we know there are so many inconsistencies in his accounts which an innocent person would not need to concern themselves over. If I were the lead investigator and he admitted to lying in a police interview, as JW attested to LE, then I would have read him his Miranda rights and put him in a jail cell. I fail to understand why any of the suspects were released. And, if I hear one more poster say that JW is not considered a suspect, then I would tell them to look up the term ‘shade’ in the urban dictionary.
Clue Bird, Commentator, Treya:
Does anyone here take issue with the fact that JW texted his girlfriend pics of the money at 9:00 am? How can that be? Banks do not even open until 9 and unless they opened early for Mr. S it doesn’t make sense. I bank with
B of A and I can attest they do not open before 9:00 AM.
He got the money first thing ( by timeline of his pic to GF 9:00 AM) yet didn’t drop it off ( according to his text to Mr. S) until 10:26? Almost an hour and a half later? Really? Why the delay? Even if JW is innocent – which I do not believe he is- he is gonna have a hard time answering that simple question.Where was he during that time? Why was he slow in carrying out his boss’s task? At the very least he wasn’t being prompt.
Second big question I’ve not seen brought up here:
Why was Jordan Wallace’s mother a no-show at the church she worked for over a week? My understanding is she stopped going to her job BEFORE the murders happened. Why is that?
And why was the residence emptied out and up for sale all of sudden. Had it been previously listed? Lots of unanswered questions…
Clue Bird.. anyone? Please take a crack at it!
Sleuth, et al: Your question about the 9 am “photo shoot” has come up before, and from what I can gather, no one’s ever been able to provide a link to the time stamp pic that was sent to Ashley. Some posters here are all up in arms about that 90 minutes, yet the only reference I’ve seen thus far said “about” 9 am. And who knows whose words those were?
Re his mother: I hadn’t heard/read that she stopped showing up at her job before the crime; where did you read this? I don’t think it’s ever been revealed what church she worked at, although some on here made the “connection” that it was the same church where the Porsche was found, but I’ve not heard that either. Do we even know the residence address that’s up for sale? If so, I’d do some nosing around with my real estate contacts to see what info can be gleaned.
As Jana pointed out previously, I’m interested in seeing some cold, hard evidence against Wallace, and not just a bunch of little inconsistencies and unanswered questions. Something like DNA on a pizza crust. Contrary to what a lot of posters here believe, I don’t think it’s there. I’m sure LE has vetted his story numerous times and is coming up empty-handed, thus that leak last week, and I’m sure Wallace feels no sense of obligation to exonerate himself to the public, and/or has been advised not to do so by his counsel, which I’m sure he has.
Tim and fellow sleuth’s:
Tim, here is a link to the Washington Post article, warrants and FOX DC which quote specifically the timeline of text to girlfriend at 9:00 AM and supposed text from JW to SS at 10:26 as well as info about JW mother and their home and quote from her co-workers at the church she worked stating she had been absent for about a week.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-investigating-killings-seek-evidence-about-savopoulos-assistant/2015/06/04/1b9031d4-0adf-11e5-a7ad-b430fc1d3f5c_story.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/266278174/Daron-Dylon-Wint-Charging-Documents
See the filed court documents ( Scribd) where police / LE layout the timeline of text messages from W1 ( JW) to W2 ( Ashley Barnett) which states text of picture in red bag at 9:00 AM .Picture texted only showed TWO BUNDLES of cash. $20K to be exact.
“The next day, police said, Wallace texted and called several people, including a woman to whom he sent a photo of the red bag and money at 9 a.m. “Daaaamn,” the woman responded. “I wonder how much it is?” Wallace responded, “40,” and the woman texted back, “Jesus.”
At 10:26 a.m., the police records show, Wallace texted Savopoulos, “Package delivered.”
Wallace then drove to Virginia. The fire was discovered about 1:15 p.m., and police say Wallace was in Chantilly at the time.”
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29173374/savopoulos-assistant
“The home that belongs to his mother and where he supposedly lived is for sale and empty.
His mother works at a church, but staff said she has not been to work in over a week.”
I’m curious after you view the actual report / warrants filed by law enforcement if you still support the idea that W1/ Jordan Wallace is completely innocent here.
Sleuth: I’m not saying he’s completely innocent, but I am saying I’ve not seen enough solid evidence to think otherwise. When his name first surfaced about two weeks ago, I was thoroughly convinced of his involvement, but as time has gone on and there doesn’t appear to be anything really concrete to nail him with, I don’t feel comfortable drawing that conclusion.
On another topic (and I think it was CB who questioned the timing, broad daylight, etc): I’m wondering too what was going on all night and all morning. I suspect that there was supposed to be a whole lot more than $40 grand, and either it wasn’t possible to pull that much together that quickly or SS was hoping he could fool DW into thinking there was more, or something. After Wint retrieved the cash from the garage and counted it, that may have inflamed him all the more, at which point he took it out on SS and the others. I still contend that things went on for at least 2 or more hours after the money drop, as the fire wasn’t discovered until after 1 pm, and that amount of smoke and flames would’ve caught someone’s attention pretty quickly, I think.
Tim,
I am intrigued by your consistent posts defending Jordan Wallace. But your points all ring hollow – at least to me. Regarding his mother’s house, it was listed for sale in April — before the murders. You can see when it was listed on zillow. Don’t have her address but some TV show had it. I’m sure her situation, whatever it may be, plays some motivating role in her son’s actions.
When I first heard of these horrific murders, I envisioned some monstrously horrid looking people as the perps. Daron Wint certainly fits the bill. Jordan Wallace, on the other hand, does not. He is a charming almost charismatic guy with a most engaging smile. Not someone I could picture torturing a little boy.
But I believe now, more than ever, that he did. I believe it was him in the Porsche driving away from the house right after it was set on fire – which puts him in the house when the murders occurred. A witness saw him – How many black, neatly cropped shorthair suspects wearing a lime green vest could there be that also had connections to Daron Wint, the victims and had an affinity for that very car? The ping on his phone in VA at 1:30 just proves his phone was there – not him. He lied..LIED about his actions right before the murders.
He was recently fired from his “dream job” that he was so “blessed” to have. He was also recently replaced as a coach for a 10 yr old by a more successful professional. His job now consisted of driving this 10 yr old boy to his races. Oh the humiliation! From interviews and articles I’ve read about Wallace, I’ve gleaned that he is actually a very intelligent, enterprising guy. The type of guy who had the abilities and smarts to plan such an attack. Yes, it’s hard to imagine such an affable young guy like Wallace with the disarming smile could be involved is something so demonic. But he was – and I am praying for the day when he is removed from humanity.
Thanks, Commenter. A poster named Chatter had said LE verified that JW was working at the dojo, so I thought that was something I might have missed. I think there is naturally confusion about reports of what JW STATED he did vs reports of what LE has said he ACTUALLY did.
Jordan Wallace had contacted an administrator at AIW to inform that he was instructed by SS to work at the new martial arts studio. Honestly, I cannot imagine in the midst of the horror that began on Wednesday and ended in a quadruple homicide on Thursday, that SS gave any such instruction to Jordan Wallace…. do you??
My biggest problem with Jordan Wallace is that just from the bits and pieces we know it makes no sense what he actually did compared to what he said he did. I am a parent, and trust me, I would never leave my employment and empty out my residence and put it up for sale if everything with my child did not point to any type of wrongdoing!
If anyone saw JW there it was not reported by LE to reliable media sources, since the last time he was SEEN was on video at a hardware store with a day/time stamp on the surveillance tape.
It is a lot safer to rely on real journalists rather than posters for correct information. Many of the posters on this thread use links to back up there speculations and theories.
If there is an update on Jordan Wallace, once the affidavit is unsealed the media would be officially informed and it would have confirmed by a reliable source.
It is frustrating that the suspects were released at the scene of the takedown and are now considered accomplices. Wasn’t it enough evidence for LE to arrest when the money orders and cash were found in the two vehicles stopped by State Marshalls?? That really is a sticking point for me. Maybe LE wanted to monitor if the vehicles were going to be tampered by the involved parties. Yet, it is unnerving none the less since I am of the mindset to have gone beyond detention and arrested them all and take them off of the streets. There was sufficient proof to keep them ALL incarcerated considering the magnitude of the crime!
I agree with you on all points! I did not know that Jordan Wallace contacted an AIW employee to say that SS instructed him to work at the dojo.
I wonder if he said he got those instructions after 6 PM Weds or on Thurs? Nothing that JW has said adds up. And that’s just according to the few facts we know.
I completely understand that people are innocent until proven guilty. But admittedly lying and changing stories in a quadruple homicide is not innocent. It is illegal and despicable behavior.
The negative attention and scrutiny cast onto JW is far from unfair. It is appropriate and he brought it on himself.
The day after this unconscionable incident, local reporters were both inside and outside the AIW facility with camera crews asking a lot of obvious queries? Inside they interviewed an administrator and an accountant.
In addition, reporters went to the scene of the mansion fire to speak with as many people as possible who were witnesses or neighbors. Many different news outlets all spoke to Nelly Guitterez on camera. Later she would talk to a reporter with her back to the camera and requested anonymity. Then she was shown extensively on 20/20 sitting in a kitchen with an ABC reporter. I have some thoughts about what I have seen and heard from the housekeeper, but will refrain until LE tells us more.
Outside they talked to workers driving in and out of the facility parking lot. These videos were shown every day on Inside Edition. I do not know if those specific videos are still available online at their site at this point since it has already been a month since this senseless barbarism occurred in the heart of Embassy Row.
I will say, it is hard to believe LE has not incarcerated andy of the previously apprehended known accomplices. Insofar, as Jordan Wallace is concerned, most posters are still waiting for additional unsealed affidavit documentation to corroborate his actual level of involvement.
I pray Nate Thayer will continue to use his genius journalistic mind to pursue the truth for the sake of the bereaved families so justice will be meted out appropriately.
Commenter: You’re saying they interviewed an administrator and an accountant? Yes, I’d like to view those interviews if you can locate them; I’ll also see if I can find them. I don’t recall that, and I’ve been pretty much all over this story since it happened but it’s possible I missed something. I only recall them speaking to a couple of blue collar workers (one in a red truck, as I recall) driving out of the parking lot.
I’m sure Nate appreciates your confidence in him, but I think the families would just as soon see LE find those responsible and let our justice system runs its course. No disrespect intended.
Tim:
If you are a reporter, as you seem to be, you should be able to request the video tapes shown on the program ‘Inside Edition’ the next 3 -5 days immediately after the homicides. Those videos are their property, but they do share with sources.
Les Trent, Sr. Correspondent worked the report.
Also, I do not expect Nate Thayer to be privy to everything LE says at any given moment; however, I do believe in his due diligence as the material owner of his own writings, meaning his investigative data is vetted…. and, if there is a correction or update, he would share any vital information, as he sees fit.
In other words, I personally do not consider the posters on this board to be bloggers, unless they’re on their own blog page. I happen to be in the media business myself, although I am not publishing content on this specific subject matter. My thoughts and opinions have been shared solely on this blog page.
However, I and have a considerable amount of journalism experience and know this massive a case is going to be cracked by any one individual. I read another thread here where Nate Thayer wrote about his short career writing on this particular topic and his personal reasons behind his thought process.
I was simply referencing his other comments, just to say I am hopeful he will continue to use his skills and talents to continue working on this case since he was the only journalist to figure out a potential connection between Daron Wint and Jordan Wallace. And, yes, I do think Mr Thayer is a genius.
Since, I no longer receive notifications to this blog, I will check back from time to time… but, I encourage you to contact Inside Edition directly to check out the videos on the mansion murders and the interview of a female administrator which was very brief – and, a longer one with a male accountant done while seated behind his desk. Nelly Guitterez was interviewed on the street, as well.
The other workers stopped outside the AIW building, evidently you already have seen on tape.
Good luck to you, Tim, in your quest putting this perplexing mystery together. Since you reside in D.C. and have excellent access to confirming many vital details. And, if you do write about it professionally, please put your findings on this blog for the rest of us to learn what you have confirmed to be valid.
This case is far too complex and time-consuming for me to figure out given all of the still unanswered questions about the accomplices who were detained, released and are now suspects, yet again… and, a myriad of other issues I am unable to put together without inside access.
I agree that this timeline is troubling. Assuming that SS made it clear that this was an asap situation, you would think JW would bolt to the house with the money. Instead it took him an hour and a half to get the deed done, based on the fact that we know he had the money at 9 AM.
The reason for me that this particularly troubling is because VF’s husband was at the house at around the same time JW might have arrived at the house with the cash. Given VF’s husband’s concerns for his wife and that he thought someone was inside, he would have shared this info with JW. Suddenly, the $40k would look highly suspicious.
Sheer speculation, but maybe JW did indeed arrive in the neighborhood with the cash about the time he should have, but was told to hang back by DW because VF’s husband was there. So JW waited for him to leave and then made the drop off. OR, maybe JW was there, his car parked around the block and just hid until VF’s husband left. (There is speculation that garage door was open and that’s how VF’s husband was able to see what cars were parked in there.)
Could be coincidence that it took JW an exceptionally long time to make the urgent drop off and happened to miss VF’s husband by minutes. But that would make this case the freakiest case of coincidences in history.
KM: Thanks for your thinking. But as I responded in another post, I think there’s too much credence being lent to the notion that the pic text was sent exactly at 9 am. From what we read initially, the bank manager was involved (who should’ve been more suspicious than the pizza delivery guy, but I digress), and 40k was being gathered right after the bank’s opening. Heck, these days it seems to take 15 minutes just to cash a simple check inside the branch let alone ask for a lot of cash. (Even with all their high tech computers, it seems like it takes longer to make a deposit now than it did back when they used passbooks.) Add to that the fact that it was rush hour coming INTO the city on US 50, and it very likely could’ve taken that long.
Did Alfaro mention what time he was at the house that morning? There was another, unidentified man (a neighbor) who I saw on one of the news stories right after the new broke who said he saw something “out of the ordinary” that literally stopped him in his tracks (in his car). Never have heard more about that, unless he saw Alfaro pounding on the door. And there’s that pesky vacuum cleaner salesmen story that seems to have dropped off the radar…
Hi Tim. It is in the charging doc (page 8) that W-2 got the pic/text from JW at around 9 AM. (So, to your point, that could be 9:10.) Which would give enough time to take out the cash with the bankers after they open and get cash into the car to snap the pic. I am sure SS made it very clear that this was extremely urgent and so can only assume they acted expediently in every way regarding the transaction, the transport and the delivery. I want to say that I read/heard that VF’s husband drove to the house after his nightshift ended, which I believe ended at 9:00 or 9:30, but I can’t verify that, nor do I know how far away his work was from the house.
Still, assuming for a moment that JW is a guy with tremendous bad luck and a victim of multiple unfortunately coincidences and circumstances, it’s terrible that the two men missed each other by minutes.
As far as I know, whatever the neighbor saw that stopped him (which he reported to LE) was never made public. It could have been so many things–someone syphoning gas from a car, someone fighting in a window, someone running under the garage door as it was closing, Alfaro pounding on the door, someone running and jumping in the porsche
I’m sort of guessing, unless the pesky vacuum dude was part of DW’s posse and trying to gain entrance to the house by posing (totally possible, if what some people think is true–that the break in was staged, which would align with LE’s original contention) he was probably just that–a pesky vacuum salesman, apparently from the 50’s. What rich people buy their appliances from d to d salespeople?
Exactly. But that’s what makes that whole vacuum salesmen thing all the more compelling; there may be something there.
Question: Are there other blogs about this case that any of you know about/are contributing on? I stumbled into this one by happenstance last week but assume there may be others. km mentioned that others – and the police – initially thought the break-in was staged, which is contrary to what I thought/read. In fact, I was a bit dismayed that weeks later, MPD came out with the break-in story with the footprint that’s been all over the media. How the hell was *that* missed on the very first walkaround of the house?? Or, is that what you’re referring to kw?
We keep saying here that our LE is top notch, but that revelation sure called their credibility in question, IMO.
Tim and fellow sleuth’s:
Tim, here is a link to the Washington Post article, warrants and FOX DC which quote specifically the timeline of text to girlfriend at 9:00 AM and supposed text from JW to SS at 10:26 as well as info about JW mother and their home and quote from her co-workers at the church she worked stating she had been absent for about a week.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-investigating-killings-seek-evidence-about-savopoulos-assistant/2015/06/04/1b9031d4-0adf-11e5-a7ad-b430fc1d3f5c_story.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/266278174/Daron-Dylon-Wint-Charging-Documents
See the filed court documents ( Scribd) where police / LE layout the timeline of text messages from W1 ( JW) to W2 ( Ashley Barnett) which states text of picture in red bag at 9:00 AM .Picture texted only showed TWO BUNDLES of cash. $20K to be exact.
“The next day, police said, Wallace texted and called several people, including a woman to whom he sent a photo of the red bag and money at 9 a.m. “Daaaamn,” the woman responded. “I wonder how much it is?” Wallace responded, “40,” and the woman texted back, “Jesus.”
At 10:26 a.m., the police records show, Wallace texted Savopoulos, “Package delivered.”
Wallace then drove to Virginia. The fire was discovered about 1:15 p.m., and police say Wallace was in Chantilly at the time.”
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29173374/savopoulos-assistant
“The home that belongs to his mother and where he supposedly lived is for sale and empty.
His mother works at a church, but staff said she has not been to work in over a week.”
I’m curious after you view the actual report / warrants filed by law enforcement if you still support the idea that W1/ Jordan Wallace is completely innocent here.
I have to agree…. the spotty timeline regarding Jordan Wallace’s actions and activities, particularly in the light of his multiple versions of events, makes no sense whatsoever and does not appear possible, let alone, credible!
The responsible parties likely used burner phones which LE needs to figure out. I do not understand why the prosecutors are not naming the two women who laundered ca$h into money orders? What is the big secret as to their identities?? Also, where is W1, Jordan Wallace?? Imo, if his passport was in his backpack along with the Mosler registration document, he should be considered a definite flight risk! Is W2, Ashley Barrett (JW’s GF) still employed at the go-cart facility?
This high profile case appears shrouded in both secrecy and mystery? We know the multiple agencies are working diligently on solving it…. so, the public is simply wondering…. please, tell us…. WHY an entire month has passed and those apprehended accomplices who were arrested at the scene of Daron Wint’s capture were all released… yet, now they are back on the top of the roster of suspects?? Marshalls had nabbed the two women with Wint along with ca$h and money orders in the Chevy Cruze…. and, inside the box truck driven by his brother, they found $10K in ca$h. There is NO WAY I believe Daron Wint’s GF when she told NY City investigators Wint was going to turn himself in.
None of his actions show this to be factual since they were arrested around 11pm.
If Marshalls had continued to follow them and not stopped them first, we question their next destination leaving the hotel at such a late hour when people are usually turning in for the night… not leaving and out on the prowl??
I find this all quite unusual, but there must be some solid rationale behind the prosecutor’s decision to release and then re-investigate these two unnamed women?? I think the AG’s office might be throwing some ‘shade’ onto the media, just to keep their internal investigation private and not open to public scrutiny. Otherwise, LE would tell media the identities of the two women in the Chevy Cruze.
I just came across this fact that may lend to Wallace’s credibility.
Savvas spoke to his sister Debra on Thursday morning and she said he that seemed to be in good spirits.
The one thing that REALLY impressed upon me when hearing the chilling call that Savvas made to Nelly was the calmness in his voice, despite shrieking screams that could me heard in the background (more ikely coming from Philip).
For al we know, Savas may have told Wallace “to take your time” coming to the house, especially after the un-expected door banging & window peeking of Vera’s husband at 9:30 a.m. (another blogger on this thread posted the time & their source from People Mag). I can’t imagine the pain and anguish the families must feel (realizing after the fact), that your loved ones were held captive by a monster and probably others in broad daylight!!!!
I applaud Savvas’ bravery; courage; and strength! I believe his attributes kept himself the others alive for many hours beyond what they might have survived, by his maintaining of a “cool head”.
Who knows what happened after the money drop. Doesn’t it seem odd to you that the murders took place 1.5 – 2 hour after the money drop and in the MIDDLE of the day!!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-continues-into-mysterious-deaths-of-four-in-burning-dc-home/2015/05/15/8936d0aa-fb24-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html
Anything is possible, but I am not 100% clear on how SS’s calmness on other phone calls lends credibility to Wallace, only because Wallace never said that SS told him that, as far as the public has been told. LE might know otherwise, but what LE DID say in the charging docs is that JW stated that he called SS when he was 10 mins away from the house and was told to put the money in the car (more than one version of those instructions, but that’s the gist).
However, assuming Wallace had zero knowledge of what the money was for, then it makes sense, just like with all the other phone calls from SS to the outside, that DW was telling SS what to say and SS would have cooperated in a calm-sounding way. But if that’s the case, I wonder why Wallace would relay a different conversation to LE. It’s all a mystery. Nothing makes much sense.
km,
I concur that this case is certainly a mystery! Discovering that Savvas’ sister called him and she didn’t find anything amiss, made be rethink Wallace’s involvement that morning. The only thing that we know for sure is that Savvas left more than one message on Wallace’s phone, for Wallace texted Savvas at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, saying “I got your messages, I will call you when I get the package.” Other than those words, we don’t know what Savvas had tasked Wallace to do the remainder of the day. All we know is that Wallace was spotted at a Hardware Store in Chantilly. Has anyone found a verifiable source stating that Wallace was suppose to be working at the Martial Arts Center on Thursday?
Savvas starting making calls at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t Wallace pick up the cash at AIW and not at the bank. There seems to be some confusion about this detail.
Lastly, I for one think that the neon construction vests were used by Wint and his accomplices to exit quickly without arousing too much attention. I also am wondering if anything was removed from the home during the night?
I thought it was the bank – and that JW went there with the accountant. I’m quite sure that’s what 20/20 reported as well.
Tim – I thought the opposite. I thought Wallace first claimed he went to BOA with AIW’s accountant, or met the accountant at BOA and the accountant made the 40K withdrawal and gave it to Wallace. And his second story was that he did not go to the bank, did not see the money being withdrawn and placed in an envelope. But that he got the money from the accountant and picked it up at AIW, and then drove to the mansion to drop off the money. He also changed the details about the drop off. First the car was locked and keys were hidden on the garage. Then second version was that both the garage and car were unlocked, and he left the money in the car.
Good point, Clue Bird. We don’t know what those messages said the night before. Of course at a that point Ss (or DW) would not know that Alfaro would be coming by in he AM, so wouldn’t know to tell JW to take his time. But perhaps there us another msg from SS to JW once Alfaro arrived at the house that has not been mentioned by JW or LE in hunch SS told JW to take his time. It could go any which way!
We do not know a lot or understand a lot about this investigation because no one involved in the investigation is sharing information or should share certain information at this time. We have investigators who are not involved sharing their thoughts on the situation but they are not directly involved. Every investigation- there is information that is not disclosed to the public. The best in the forensics field are involved in this investigation. Although based on the information provided I do not feel JW is involved – y’all came up with some good theories- great detective work . no involvement – no motive. What date or dates was JW questioned about the money- the day of the fire? other dates? When did SS sister speak with him last? was it the day of the fire or the Thursday before the fire?
Vibrant,
The article that I sourced in my earlier thread indicates that Savvas sister spoke to him in the morning before the murders. I still think Wallace had some involvement. He lied on several occasions and he seems to have past connections to Wint. The location where the Porshe was found, is adjacent to an apartment complex where both Wint’s and Wallace’s families once lived.
Why would Wint’s accomplices drive 13-15 miles to torch and dump a car? There is a reason they chose that spot over the thousands of places they could have dumped it.
Many cars involved in crimes get dumped in lakes, ponds, rivers where they won’t be found for a long time. One such decorative lake (the kind you find in apartment complexes/condos) in the city where I reside pulled up 3 cars in one dredge! They were looking for a missing person and decided to comb the area for his car. Sure enough, they found him in his car dead, in one of those small lakes. They surmised that he had been drinking, lost control of the vehicle, and went into the lake.
CB: I really think that those past connections are murky at best. Not to criticize Nate’s work (and admittedly, I didn’t go back just now to re-read his entire story), but I don’t recall there was any real previous connection between Wint and Wallace, other than the fact their families lived somewhat nearby at some point in the past, which I’ll give you is weirdly coincidental. (“Once lived.”) However, I do agree that there could be a reason that church parking lot was chosen.
Kind of surprised there hasn’t been more speculation about Wint’s brother, who was taken into custody along with the others that night. What do we know about that guy?
It is widely reported by neighbors that everyone knew one another. Damon Wint would hang out on the front porch of his family’s residence.
If the proximity to Wallace’s family home is as close by as mere feet away as shown on the map and confirmed by public record….., do you honestly think Wint and Wallace never, ever, ever, evvverrr met?????
Particularly, since they both seem to be narcissistic showboaters of approximately the same age who had both lived there with their families for several years???
You are a logical and methodical person, imo…. please look one more time and let us know what you would conjecture, as an investigator??
(As a sidebar note to Administrator, I noticed the system notifications are currently not working.) 🙂
Yes, I knew that Wint’s parents’ neighbors have said that they would see him sitting out on the porch a lot (I even talked to a couple of them myself, as I made it my “business” to drive over to that street a couple weeks ago…there were a multitude of news crews there then as well), but that’s not much, in my mind. I’m too tired to go back and read all of Nate’s story and accompanying maps, but didn’t Wallace most recently live in Annapolis? And it didn’t sound to me that Wint lived on that street (was it 85th?), but that his parent did, and he’d be seen hanging around out front. (Maybe they wouldn’t let him in the house.) And then there’s the fact that Wint has had numerous addresses over the past few years, including one in Oswego, NY that I didn’t even hear about until 20/20 reported it. I’m having a tough time being convinced of their respective connections based on those coincidences, but I could be wrong.
Is this the comment you referenced downthread?
Tim,
You asked about Wint’s brother….what do I think about him?
To begin with, I want to know where he was residing the day of the murders? Was he living at his parent’s home? The 20-20 piece said that a white bucket, the same kind that was found at Wint’s parent’s house, was the found near the Amy’s burnt out Porsche They also think it was caught on survillence (the grainy pic of a man in a hoodie) running away.
Whoever torched the Porsche wasn’t very bright (in my opinion) in going to familiar surroundings that easily could be tied to them. Remember the Caylee Anthony case? Her body was evidentially found a couple blocks from her home, in the same neigborhood, where she lived. It was missed during the initial searches because of heavy rains and swampy conditions in the empty lot, where her body was found.
This is purely speculative, but UNTIL it is made known what time Wallace moved his car from the Savopoulos neighborhood, he too could have easily been the driver of the Porsche or got picked up from one of the other accomplices. The reason that I think Wallace COULD be the driver is that whoever torched it, wanted to get it over and done with, and not spend very much time thinking through his/her actions.
BECAUSE Wallace was the first person questioned by LE, he most likely would feel some URGENCY to distance himself from anything connected to the family. Now, if it was Wint or his brother, don’t you think they would have driven it far, far, away? To NYC or maybe even to Texas, where all the flooding was going on?
Connections are a funny thing, but I think most people would agree, that we remain curious, have the need to re-connect with people from our childhood. While, I am not best buddies with my former neighborhood kids, I do see some of them a couple times of year, when I return to my hometown to visit. There are many of these people that I have accepted as my FB “Friends”. In fact, between the neighbor kids and my classmates, I have over 100 people from hometown who are my FB friends.
Had Wallace not been an employee of Savvas, hadn’t been involved in the money drop, then his possible connection to Wint, wouldn’t be called into question.
Many crimes in my area have been committed by “rings” of people. Home invasion/robberies are prime targets for these types of criminals. Sometimes people in the “ring” were trusted employees (house cleaners/repair people/contractors)who had been inside the homes and knew what the owner had. They alert their assistants when the time is right. One robbery involved my spouse’s family. The robbers waited until one of the kids was having a Friday night football game and then they hit! The cops felt that it was an inside job because of the precise timing and because the robbers knew where to dismantle the security system and how to get in-out before anyone knew they were there.
Regarding the weird vaccum salesman going door to door. It could have been Irish Travellers or “Gypsies” coming up from Murphy Village in S. Carolina. They are known to head NORTH in the summer months, scamming unsuspected home owners wherever they go. They have been reported in recent years, in the city where I work (a big metropolitan area) and they are keen in knowning where the wealthiest people reside.
http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/the-thieving-season/Content?oid=1180449
This is an old article, but it will give you a good idea how they work their trade.
The only thing that clearly makes sense is the useage of common burner phones by the conspirators to communicate among themselves. Jmo.
Commenter,
You make a very valid point about the use of burner phones. What is also likely, is the use of a ” burner app.” Numbers can be changed many times with this app.
This would come in handy, especially for making calls. Text messages can be recovered, whereas the spoken word can’t, unless recorded.
Tim, sorry, I might have been unclear. At first LE said it was not forced entry, the family were held by someone they knew and that they were targeted. Then the footprint and broken glass on the door near the lock were brought to light and so the assumption would he that LE now believe it was forces entry. But I dont “think” that has been made public, so for all we know they could the break in was staged. I agree it would be odd to miss those details at the get go. They obviously have more pieces to The puzzle. There are threads about this case on websleuths and another site called DC urban moms and dads I thjnk.
Thx KM; I’ll check those other sources out.
The other thing that’s bugged me about those French doors and the boot print that apparently went unnoticed for weeks: If the glass was broken and assuming one could then reach in an unlock the door, why the need to kick it in? Unless it was a keyed deadbolt.
Hey there Tim:
Investigators though it was a fireman’s boot print, until the fire marshall said no firemen ever wear a boot matching that specific tread. It was shown on one of these threads examples of treads the boot might match up with…. and, it was reported blood spatter was found on the boot belonging to Damon Wint.
(Btw, I had sent you a long reply on this thread a few days ago, but did not receive your response. Did you ever get a chance to read it??)
Commenter: What specific post are you referring to, i.e. what were the first few words? I’ve been checking this blog repeatedly (and I get email alerts when there’s a new comment or a response to something I’ve posted) and I’m quite sure I’ve read them all…many posts more than once.
Sleuth also seems concerned that all her comments are not being posted. I wonder if there’s something going on with WordPress?
Commenter says,
JUNE 12, 2015 AT 8:22 PM
Tim:
Those are some very intriguing debate points since we know LE is being very tight-lipped about the forensic discovery concerning this case, thus far. This may be to keep it from turning into a total 3-ring circus spectacle which often creates lots of mistakes wasting time chasing false leads. Robin Ficker is a blowhard. So, we at least indisputably agree on that point…. progress, right??
The various agencies working on this matter are not going to leave a single stone left unturned in securing the alleged accomplices behind bars. As you mentioned, contradictory and misleading reporting leads to incorrect speculation and invalidated assumptions. Usually, once LE arrest suspects they generally do not release them and then focus on them again later, unless, of course, they are being surveilled to see watch their activities to cover up their steps.
Yet, it alarms me that we still do not even know the identities of those two female unnamed suspects who laundered the ca$h and are now the focus of LE’s quest to apprehend any accomplices. I firmly believe burner phones were used by the assailants and accomplices… and once those mobiles are zeroed in on this case will be blown wide open!
Jordan Wallace’s situation with the money makes him very, very culpable to insider information and he LIED…. the multiple versions of his activities were too distinct and far apart to have been caused by a case of the ‘nerves’…. isn’t he a race car driver… cool and steady at the wheel. Yet, you have suggested he was a nervous wreck and could not handle the questions?? Sorry….but, I am refuse to buy into that train of logic. Jordan Wallace ADMITTED he LIED…. why would he lie unless he needed to cover his tracks???
However, in response to your specific question about Jordan Wallace not picking up the cell call from Savvas Savopoulos…. LE has stated he TEXTED Amy S. AFTER the fire started to inform her the mansion was on fire and ask if she was okay?? If I were an investigator, this would not make sense to me because he did not contact his boss about the residence in flames… instead his texted his boss’s wife??? How odd.
Sorry, but, imo…. this was very amateurish attempt at CYA since he was not even near the mansion at the time. Sooo… who informed him of the fire??
And, I would really like to know why on gods green earth he would think to reach out to Amy S. – but, not his employer about the fire??? Bizarre!
Also, there are notable timeline gaps between certain times of the morning before Jordan Wallace was seen on surveillance video inside a hardware store in Chantilly, VA. What did he drive to get there since his BMW was spotted parked on a street a block away from the residence?? What vehicle did he use to get there?? What time was the Porsche on fire? Could he have driven to the mansion, picked up the Porsche, sped to Chantilly and turned around and torched the vehicle?? By what mode of transportation did Wint arrive at the mansion and subsequently leave the area?? Was the Chevy Cruze his getaway vehicle… or, perhaps, the box truck???
Does CCTV pick up any of these other vehicles on video near the scene??
And, yes, innocent until proven guilty under the law, but not necessarily in the court of public opinion. We are anxious to solve a crime without all the missing puzzle pieces.
So, we ask question and hope for solid answers so the proper punishments can be meted out to the right ones involved.
Commenter: Somehow, i missed this post upthread. Sorry.
You’re right – and I don’t know what to make of JW’s texting Amy but not calling or texting SS, unless he did and we don’t know about it. More strange is, as you pointed out, is who from AIW alerted him to the fire? And how did they learn of it? (This question has been rightfully asked by others here…or was that you?)
I’d also like to know more about which car JW drove and when on Thursday. The notion that a witness seeing someone with short well-groomed hair driving the Porsche erratically down NY Avenue is the one point that causes me to question JW, unless we’re introduced to another perp that would fit that description.
Thanks Clue Bird, please clarify – connections? Does connection mean we know each other/ We lived near each other? We are friends? We hung out together recently? I say that because there are many people I know of -went to the same high school with- know some of the same people- lived near each other several times- but I would never give them the time of day. I think they are seeking current contact with- versus vague connections- the Maryland area is not that big. I know right – his lies have caused problems for him – as the saying goes – before speaking with LE it is best to have a lawyer present – even if you are innocent. I do not know if he is innocent or not just find it hard to lean towards involvement with the information that has been provided so far. hope they get all the perps in this case soon.
I am confused about this too. There seems to be a cluster of DW’s family in the general area where JW has lived, but it has also been reported that DW and Wallace were next door neighbors for some time. So, did they live in residences, even part time, that were very close to each other? If it were for a long enough time for them to meet, it doesn’t really matter whether that time was one year ago or 10 years ago. It would mean they were connected. (It was kind of interesting that the wording in an ABC article regarding the 20/20 special said law enforcement “has not revealed the connection between Daron White and Jordan Wallace.” As if there were one that they were purposefully not yet revealing. I take that with a giant grain of salt.
I re-read Nate’s story this morning about the address similarities of Wallace and Wint, and I’ll admit, the first time I read it, it sure seemed pretty damning. But now, as time goes on and new information becomes available and I re-read it, it strikes me more as a strange coincidence. I’m not familiar with Carrollan Manor and Gardens, but it sounds like a huge apartment complex, like literally hundreds of apartments in multiple buildings. I suppose it’s possible they met at some point, but it seems to me that places like that are pretty impersonal and one can live next to a neighbor for years and not know them or even speak to them. These guys lived a building apart but it’s not clear that they were there at the same time. Nate’s story mentions that Wallace lived at 5303 from February 2004 to October 2009 and then goes on to say that Wint lived next door at 5301, but he conveniently doesn’t supply us with dates of when Wint lived there.
Since, according to Nate’s dates, Wallace hasn’t lived there for almost six years, but Wint seems to have had more on-going connection with that area (sister living at 5408 – also Wint’s address listed in charging documents), it seems more plausible to me that Wint selected the church parking lot for its concealed area in the rear as well as for its proximity to the aforementioned apartment complex.
So in addition to Wint’s brother that I’ve wondered about, there’s also a sister who lives in this area. Wonder what the chance is that his sister was one of the women apprehended that night on Rhode Island Ave?
Nate did I do or say something wrong? My comments are being moderated. My last post was specifically to answer Tim’s questions about the 9 am text pic and whether or not Wallace’s mother was at her job at the church the week of the murders. If I said something offensive I apologize
Try refreshing your page, Sleuth.
Perhaps, two or more posts collided at the same time in super space??
My comments are posting on NT’s blog, but I noticed system notifications are currently disabled to my email address.
Also, there are 3 threads on Nate’s blog if you search: Wallace
Perhaps, you posted it on a different thread??
One last thing for the night from me. Not to be too critical Commenter, but it’s Daron, not Damon. And I think the correct pronunciation is da-RON and not DAR-on (like Darrin on Bewitched), despite the fact that even most news people are saying it wrong. I picked that up when I was lurking around his parent’s neighborhood that day.
TIm:
Evidently, I cannot keep track of his real name…. given so many different aliases.
However, duly noted…’Damon’ it is…. and, I will be sure to recall going forward, as it is so extremely close to the spelling of ‘demon’… how ironic!
In my opinion, just call him Demon and leave it at that.
Commenter wrote: However, duly noted…’Damon’ it is…. and, I will be sure to recall going forward, as it is so extremely close to the spelling of ‘demon’… how ironic!
I am guilty of calling Daron, ‘Damon’ in at least 1 post. I didn’t even notice it and know his name is Daron Dylon Wint. Yet I was compelled to type Damon. Very weird.
Savvas’ sister is the controller at AIW. It.is very likely that she coordinated the withdrawal of the funds.
Our family uses a code word which when overheard does not sound like anything special. But, if we hear it interjected in a sentence although it does not even sound like an actual word – more of a sound since it is a foreign language with no accent used…so, we all know, it is a red alert!!
Every family should have a code word…. particularly, for children to learn the code word by repetition.
Wow, Ginny, that’s a juicy tidbit of information I hadn’t read before. How do you know that? Are you connected to the family or a neighbor or AIW? Not sure if I recall seeing you post here previously (or at least not much), but it seems like you might have some inside knowledge of details that we heretofore haven’t had. Welcome.
No insider info. I was curious about the “accountant” so I did a search for officers of AIW. Debra’s name came up as the controller, and it sounded familiar.
My own questions this morning brought to mind a couple more that I thought of while in the shower: What DO we know about the rest of Wint’s family, that by all accounts, has lived in the same general area for years. Did they all emigrate from Guyana at the same time in 2000? Does Wint’s brother (do we even have his name?!) by any change have short hair? And who was this relative that was recently terminated from AIW? Could it be a sister? What about his father? Do we know anything about his past? He seems like a hard-working guy based on the accounts of his neighbors, but does he have any kind of record? Usually, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
And that $40k number was likely the only amount that the banker could pull together in 100s with no advance notice. SS may have convinced his sister that it was needed for the dojo auction when there really was no such thing; he had to tell her something. I’m sure Wint was expecting to extort a whole lot more than 40k
There is a lot of spec that DW thought he could get much more–and even unverified reports of SS trying to wire money.
DW has like 8 siblings, some with records, one in jail, one csught with him. It’s also interesting where some of them worked. It’s all on websleuths.
I am not so sure that living in the same neighborhood/complex doesn’t mean anything. One mutual friend/acquaintance/neighbor is all it would take if JW was trying to think of a monster to pull off a hostage situation.
KM: Would you mind sharing info about the siblings’ “interesting” employment? I went on websleuths yesterday, but it seems way too complicated to parse through.
Tim & Others:
Nate ran another article before this one (here’s the link) http://www.nate-thayer.com/race-car-driver-linked-to-suspect-in-washington-savopoulos-murder-whodunit/
and in that article he wrote:
“Records show that Wallace’s father, a retired police officer in Maryland, lived at 5303 85th Ave, New Carrollton, MD between February 2004 and October 2009–when Jordan Wallace would have been 17 to 22 years old. Records also show that Daron Wint previously lived at 5301 85th ave in New Carrollton–immediately next door to the former Wallace residence.
In addition, court documents charging Daron Wint with the Savopoulos murders list Daron Wint’s current home address as 5408 85th Avenue, T-2, Lanham, Maryland. That apartment is registered to Wint’s SISTER, Samantha Wint. Records suggest she has lived there at least as of February, 2015. In addition, records show the Wallace family lived at 5313 85th ave apt # 11.”
I believe this is the connection, the tie in! Notice the Wint & Wallace former addresses on 85th Avenue were NEXT DOOR to one another and in the same apartment complex where Wint’s sister “Samantha” STILL appears to reside!
The Church, where Amy’s Porsche was found is at 8001 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, which is adjacent to the rear of the parking lot of the apartment complex where the Wallace family lived while Jordan Wallace was a teenager.
The HIDDEN CLUE to the mystery is the city – Lanham. When I entered the Church’s address: 8001 Annapolis Rd, New Carrollton and Wint’s sister Sam’s address 5313 85th Avenue, New Carrollton (NOT Lanham) ,they are only 2 MINUTES apart, so Samantha’s current address MUST also be adjacent to the Church!
Furthermore, the following CNN article reported that “Three women were with Wint in the car, and two men were in the moving truck, including Wint’s brother.” Which makes me believe that the “other man” was not related, but perhaps the females could be!
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/us/washington-mansion-fire-slayings/ This link also shows
both red (the Mosler & Audi) cars at the family home.
Lastly, do you suppose SUPRESSING this information could be because of politics?!? Specifically, Obama’s bid to diversify wealthy neighborhoods?
http://thehill.com/regulation/244620-obamas-bid-to-diversify-wealthy-neighborhoods
Nothing in Washington D.C., happens in a vacuum, ESPECIALLY if policy(politics)is at stake!
Perhaps Obama & his cabinet doesn’t want it KNOWN that people from the POORER SIDE OF TOWN don’t blend well with the POSH people in affluent neighborhoods?
From a sociology class I took many years ago, I was taught the following regarding the different social classes of people.
Poor working Class live for TODAY. They value pleasure, recreation, personal freedom more than anything. They usually have the latest big screen TVs; have $$$ for recreation fun; and tend to only think in one day increments. “Living for today” is their motto.
Middle Class plan for TOMORROW. Everything they do is done for a better tomorrow for themselves/children. They know the meaning of “delaying instant gratification”, not just living for today, because hard work and persistent will some day pay off.
Wealthy (upper class) Live in the PAST. Family connections; legacy (attending the same schools that their parents/grandparents/great-grand) is very important to them. So is IVY League schools,
name dropping of important connections; philanthropy; & naming rights (getting their names attached to buildings/endowments/non-profit organizations).
Holy Cow! Clue Bird and Missy you guys rock! CB in particular if I were LE working this case I would hands down offer you a job.. no joke.
Thanks CB. That’s pretty much what I’ve been saying for the past couple days, that I’m more inclined to think that other Wints were involved, more than Wallace.
Nate: Can you provide us the actual dates that Wint lived at 5301? Was it during the time that Wallace lived next door from ’04 to ’09?
“The Church, where Amy’s Porsche was found is at 8001 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, which is adjacent to the rear of the parking lot of the apartment complex where the Wallace family lived while Jordan Wallace was a teenager.” Yes, and what’s the point? That because Wallace lived next door to the church at one time year ago, that it must be him?!
You make some very good sociology points but I’m not even sure I want to tackle the political theory you raised!
Also, that’s the first clip I’ve seen of the two red cars. Thanks for posting.
My point about the Church being adjacent to the apartment complex was to emphasize its proximity to Samantha Wint’s current residence (if she still lives there beyond the February verification) Nate’s research seems to suggest that she could still live there. How convenient would that be for the assailant who torched the car….just run to Samantha’s apartment, take a shower, and listen for the police sirens. The hounds were sniffing in the wooded area behind the Church.
Missy: I nearly missed your comment to me (no pun intended). You obviously have some pretty strong convictions regarding JW’s guilt, whereas I’m not so much defending him as really wanting to see something more than “his mother’s house is up for sale and who knows what the circumstances were but it must mean JW did these murders”, or words to that effect. That’s the sort of stuff that I can’t buy into. Or that he thought this out well enough in advance to leave his cell phone in Chantilly so the ping would still be registered. (Although he presumably had it with him when he texted Amy on the drive back to DC.) That’s the sort of thing one would expect a professional assassin to do; I think you’re giving him way too much credit – for a guy with nary a record and no history, unlike some of Wint’s siblings who, I’ve been told, have been or are presently in jail. If he was in that house, then surely he touched something and his prints would be there, but I suppose if he had the presence of mind to think of everything else, he would’ve used gloves.
Sorry Missy, I’m not buying the string of quirks that some think proves his involvement/guilt. I may be wrong and will be the first to admit so if/when such becomes necessary, but it’s been over a month now and he’s not been taken into custody.
Which leads me to my next thought…
…I have lots of faith in the MPD as many of us do (that pizza/DNA discovery was brilliant police work – the detective who thought of that should get a commendation if not a raise. Colombo would be proud.), but I seem to recall a big case that MPD severely botched up back when Charles Ramsay was chief, yet I can’t recall for the life of me what it was. Does anyone recall? (Not Chandra Levy.) Cathy Lanier seems to run a pretty tight ship (although CR did too), so hopefully it doesn’t happen again.
I agree Tim. So far, it seems that MPD and other LE agencies are doing a very good job. Their silence (much to our frustration) is a sign of good teamwork and complete professionalism.
Perhaps you’re thinking about when they did royally mess up with that mysterious murder of Robert Wone? The lawyer visiting friends on Swann Street NW? It’s never been solved and MPD made a lot of errors, and admitted they messed up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Robert_Eric_Wone
I can’t believe they’ve never solved this murder. I felt 100% certain that 1 person is responsible. Not the homeowners, nor their renter who lived in the house. But someone close to one of the homeowner’s with a criminal record who did not reside there but may have had a key. And went to college just 2 miles away and was extremely familiar with the property’s layout.
I don’t know if MPD has a good record for solving crimes but I know of several weird murders which are still unsolved 6-7-8 years later.
Hopefully the Savopouloses and VeraliciaFigueroa will find justice sooner, rather than later.
Treya, you mean like the brother? Could be. I thought the brother should be considered a serious suspect – can’t remember now whose brother he was.
Don’t tell that Robert Wone Lynch Site you think the threesome is innocent. They’ll come for you. LOL!
Bingo. JP’s bro has chaotic troubled life (or did at that time and prior to the murder). Allegedly he’s very intelligent but has a serious drug problem (I believe crack cocaine). He is also gay. And I think may have recently come out around the time of the murder. Which if you know about the bizarre way Wone was assaulted, may matter as far as the psychology of the perpetrator. I shouldn’t say that the homeowner’s and the other guy Ward (I think?) who rented and lived inside the house are 100% innocent but innocent of murder. I believe they’re guilty of lying to LE, not telling everything they know to LE, tampering with the crime scene, and covering for the real murderer. I did not agree with the judge’s ruling in the conspiracy trial and was shocked none for found guilty of any of the charges.I don’t know why they’d cover for him because he broke in to their home and robbed them as well. I think that was before the murder. Strange case for sure.
Treya, thanks for reminding me of some of the reasons why he seemed suspect to me. It’s been awhile since I read about it.
I did agree with Judge Leibovitz in her ruling. She is a very smart judge though she is rather prosecution oriented as that’s her background. I found her opinion very well reasoned and there was nothing she could do when the government didn’t have the evidence to convict. And they really didn’t. I don’t even know why they proceeded when they did. Believe me there were many wondering why even in their own office. You just wait until there is sufficient evidence to bring it to trial – murder has no statute of limitations. But you need to get it right when you do it.
Wow, you struck a chord there Treya. I was just as interested/involved in that case as much (or more) than this one. I even went to court more than once during the trial just to get a bird’s-eye view. I’ve moved on from it (and that blog you referred to – is it still out there “whokilledrobertwone.com”?), but would love to pick your brain offline about some things you mentioned.
I believe the key towards deciding whether this was an “inside” job or a home invasion is the family’s dogs.
They had two Chesapeake Bay retrievers. These dogs are not small animals. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are suspicious of strangers and become aggressive quickly when they feel their owner is threatened. If Wint and other perps burst into a house none had ever been inside before, not only would they have to quickly subdue two adults, but they’d also be faced with the two dogs. However, if JW entered first(perhaps with an excuse that he needed to pick up some items for the dojo and indicated that the dogs needed to go out and, in taking them out to the chain, neutralized the threat and allowed Wint and the others a safe entry.
Why were the dogs the only living survivors? Wint just could have killed them but someone not only brought them back into the house(they wern’t outside for 18+ hours or it would have been noticed by neighbors or Mr. VF) and put them outside again in the morning before the fire.
Just another possibility to consider.
Tom, I too have been wondering about the dogs (after I read about them in the family’s obit). If you look up thread in my post about Wallace-Wint families’ connection, open the CNN link. There is a video showing a good look at the yard. There seems to be stairs in the back yard leading away from the house. The lot that the house sits on doesn’t appear to be that big… Maybe an acre? I wonder where the dogs were found? Your theory of Jordan unleashing the dogs and turning them loose, sounds plausable to me. After all, Jordan left the Martial Arts around 3:30 p.m., a couple hours before Savvas came home.
Tom, My husband had the same thoughts about their dogs as you. He believes Wallace arrived at the mansion Wednesday late afternoon and let the dogs out. He also believes Wallace turned off the alarm on Wednesday and that the kicked in French doors, or the window(s) of a French door was a ruse to try to make it appear to be a regular break-in. My husband doesn’t believe Wallace knew how depraved Wint was and did not know he would murder the family.
But when I remind him of that pathetic text message: Hey Miss Amy etc……on the day of the fire, it makes him think that maybe Wallace did know exactly what Wint was going to do, could have stopped it, didn’t and then left that sick message thinking it was a logical way to cover his ass.
I agree with everything Tom, you, your husband have speculated about Wallace’s actions. I also think that Wallace’s text to Amy, might have been a taunt. I read somewhere that one of Amy’s friends recognized the interior of her car when Wallace posted it to his social media page. Perhaps Amy’s friend may have alerted her to this?
Yes Clue Bird. Maybe Jordan was going to get the axe? Perhaps friends and family alerted Savvas and Amy about Jordan’s unprofessional behavior? If he was going to lose his new job, could that have pushed Wallace over the edge?
Tom, You didn’t hear a few reports that at least 1 neighbor did see the dogs wandering around without owners/housekeeper? That he thought it was odd? I believe it was tv news which reported info about the dogs, and neighbor’s account. I assumed both dogs were out the entire time because we never heard anything that they were returned to the home. That is very strange. Do you happen to know where in the mansion the dogs were discovered? And they were both still alive and unharmed?
Treya, I did see those news accounts I think on usa9, but the stories in WAPO said that first responders found the dogs tied in the yard and were removed from the scene by LE. I have a Chessie and he is very schedule-oriented. If he doesn’t get his food +-an hour, he makes his bark heard. In the 70’s and 80’s, I lived on Normanstone Terrace which is just down the road from the crime scene. The neighborhood assoc. had certain rules and guidelines(that I expect are still in effect) one of which was on barking dogs. If an owner allowed the barking to continue, especially at night, the police would be called and a complaint would be made. I made the assumption that, since no one reported barking and no LE activity that the dogs were brought inside and put back out in the morning as it was reported that they were found outside.
Interesting Tom. I know Normandstone Terrace. There’s a lot of construction going on there for the past several months. I drive through that small section of Rock Creek on my way to work to avoid the nightmare of Mass Ave.
When you lived there, was there hired security presence? My husband and I noticed the signs giving everyone a heads up that that enclave has private security patrolling the area but we’ve never been aware of any person on foot, or in a vehicle which looked like security. And you can usually tell who is security because their vehicle advertises the company name.
I think if they’ve not yet done so, they should get a better security company for that area. I just cannot fathom how so many weird things in a very quiet section of Woodley Park could go on for several days without anyone notifying LE.
It’s really quiet there Tom. I RARELY ever see people walking around. Today was the first time I saw someone in front of their home instructing her landscaper about trimming a plant.
It seems that all the people outside are building contractors, electricians, plumbers, and landscapers. The homeowners seem to be invisible. I notice this with a neighborhood next to min, Colonial Village. I never see anyone outside except worker bees working on the magnificent homes, and a few security vehicles.
Normanstone Terrace, not NormanDstone. Sorry for the typo.
Tom – I agree with you that the two dogs are a key component in determining whether this is an ‘inside job’. It doesn’t seem plausible that the perps would have released the dogs to roam the neighborhood because that would have certainly seemed alarming to the neighbors. Tethering them outside where they would bark during the entire evening doesn’t make sense either. Our dog chases night critters, and barks incessantly at those critters, so I am sure to bring him in early evening before the night critters take over our backyard. Most dogs are intuitive and ‘sense’ danger and try to protect their owners. I would like to know where the dogs were during the 18+ hours that the family and housekeeper were held hostage.
Maybe the perps gave the dogs tranquilizers? It is weird that no one reported hearing them bark. I feel very strongly that their dogs would sense something was wrong and would try desperately to protect them.
THANK YOU for sharing that!! The details of the addresses can get confusing. This seems like a very probable connection to me. Why do you think so many people dismiss it as coincidence? (Along with all the other coincidences…!)
I know this idea has been floated in various places, but it is possible that DW has always held a grudge against SS and it came to the surface again when his acquaintance JW found out he was flaunting his connection with SS. Maybe DW went to JW and said, “I’m gonna rob this guy blind and you’re gonna help me.” And maybe JW said okay and helped him, scared for his life, but also happy to get some money for his racing and to take what he probably he felt deserved from the family and little PS, because they had so much more than him.
In this scenario, JW would have gotten in deeper and deeper and probably couldn’t get himself out if he tried. And he couldn’t be exposed as involved by DW. If SS caught on that his assistant knew what was going on, then the family would have to go.
JW’s lied for a reason. And IMO that leans to some level of knowledge or involvement in the scheming. But does he really have the propensity for murder and torture? I hope not.
I agree KM in that Wallace lied for a reason. Nate stated above that “Wallace then drove to Virginia to work at a Martial Arts Studio, owned by Savopoulos”.
From this statement, should we infer that
A) Wallace told this account to LE
B) Savvas tasked him to work (if he wasn’t involved in any way)
EDIT: Typo! I meant DW’s grudge resurfaced when he found out JW was flaunting the riches of the S family as SS’s assistant–and knew that JW could be an inside man for him and his brutal posse (including his brother who was caught with him in the Amerit/Chevy Cruze convoy).
BTW, I can understand not ASSUMING that the fact that the families lived next door to each other means that DW and JW definitely knew each other. But I think if I were LE, I would be hot to follow up on that one. DW’s dad DID say that DW lived with him for awhile, and that had to have been awhile ago because it was before his dad put the restraining order on him, so it very well could have been in that place that he lived, unless someone knows otherwise. I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss this possible connection!
I believe Jordan Wallace And Daron Wints brother( Darrell ) were good friends as they are about the same age. Darrell was the one arrested with Daron. I also think Darrell has been in trouble before.I read that a Darrell Wint was in a gang.I do not know if they are the same person or just have the same name.
That is interesting Aileen that Jordan Wallace & Darrell Wint were good friends. Big brother Daron probably saw Jordan’s social media posts and his show boating of all the expensive cars that Savvas let him drive.
Do you have a news source Aileen to show a Jordan-Darrell connection?
That was just my Opinion about Darrell and Jordan being good friends, as Nate stated they lived next door! What young kids and Teenagers don’t know each other ? growing up next door to each other and being around the same age.I will bet on it they knew each other !
That sounds HIGHLY possible to me. Both Daron and Darrell (I guess Daron once even used his brother’s name when arrested) seem like monsters. Maybe JW didn’t like them, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t know them well. Despite what some people say, I think it really unlikely that you don’t notice neighbors who are your age. Or have mutual neighbor acquaintances. I wish we could find out. It appears that Daron and JW were NOT FB friends at the time of the crime, according to sleuthers. But if I were JW, I would probably not want to flaunt knowing loser criminals on FB if I were trying to make my rich, racing lifestyle dreams come true. I’d much rather align my image with SS!
I can’t be certain and don’t want to speak for Aileen, CB, but I have realized that “I believe” equals “I speculate” in the online sleuthing community. So it is likely a hunch, but a solid one at that!!!! But I would be thrilled to be corrected.
I asked her to source their connection. If she (or someone else) could provide a source document to verify it, then it will FILL in a lot of gaps!
Clue Bird,
The White House and/or Presidents have little to no effect on Washington, DC (as far as living here – if they did it would be state by now and residents would have true representation). But Washington, DC is not yet a state and its residents do not have true representation which is completely unconstitutional.
In any event, Lanham, Maryland and Hyattsville, Maryland are in Maryland and not in Washington, DC. Maryland has a Republican governor, Larry Hogan. Time will tell if he can make positive changes in Maryland’s.
Besides, the GOP ruled House has blocked the AFFH. And it’s almost impossible to think that the Senate will not also follow suit.
Don’t believe the paranoid right-wing conservative media – it will never happen.
I don’t believe there is any connection whatsoever between this quadruple murder and politics. Although the Savopoulos’ have been reported to have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Democratic Party. I don’t believe the White House, and/or any of the law enforcement agencies are treating this quadruple murder of a wealthy family and their housekeeper any differently than if it had been the housekeeper’s family and one member of the Savopoulos family.
People commit crimes against others. Sometimes victims are poor. Sometimes they’re middle class. Other times they’re wealthy.
Plenty of wealthy commit crimes against others but they don’t tend to do so by physical intimidation. Instead they hide behind hedge funds and investment portfolios. They ruin people’s lives and cause just as much harm to families and society, although at first it may not seem to be as visceral – it is. And the worst of it is, they’re rarely if ever prosecuted.
Hi Treya,
Thank you for your insightful post about Washington DC and how it differs from the States and representation.
What started me thinking about whether politics could be slowing down the wheels of justice in this case, is the manner in which the 5 accomplices have been treated. Wint’s brother was driving the Big Box truck filled with money orders and cash, yet he walks away un-charged?!?
Al Sharpton is said to owe 4.5 million in state and federal liens yet he has never been charged with anything, but is invited to the White House many times!?!
Given all the racial tension we have witnessed lately, it made me wonder if this story would fan the flames and make things worse.
I know white collar crime is on the upswing and it too ruins lives (YouTube “The Playboy of Indiana” for one egregious example).
Dennis Hastert was invited to the White House many times as well. I don’t believe the president is in the line of work to investigate or report tax dogers. Plenty of those on the GOP-Tea Party side too.
Anyway, the stats on Sharpton being personally invited to the White House by President Obama are incorrect. http://www.newsmax.com/US/Rudy-Giuliani-Al-Sharpton-White-House/2014/12/30/id/615632/
True, BUT the IRS hired thousands of new IRS agents to handle Obama Care. And I know of many people who have gotten IRS letters this past tax season over nit-noid stuff! It is the Hippocrisy, that I hate and both parties are guilty of it!!!
Clue Bird, My apologies but I don’t see the relevance to the quadruple murders in DC.
I was simply questioning if the west wing would have any influence in how this case has been handled (thus far) given the current racial tensions and victims in this case, and Obama’s proposed new regulations for diversifing wealthy neighborhoods.
Just want to point out the obvious: it is possible for Daron Wint, Darrell Wint (and even more Wint family members) to be involved in this crime and it doesn’t even slightly preclude that they might have also engaged Jordan Wallace or vice versa. They all have lived in the same complex. In fact Darrell could have been in charge for all we know.
Mr.Wint (the father who has or had a restraining order against Daron) was reported to have told LE that Daron’s brother went to find him (when he was on the lam), to help him turn himself in. I don’t know if this is true but it was reported on regular DC news stations. Not the actual interview, but reported alleging these comments were made by Mr. Wint.
This article does not repeat that info but may be of some interest for those who would like more information about the Wint family: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/father-of-suspect-expresses-grief-over-slayings-in-northwest-dc/2015/05/26/afb3a334-0411-11e5-bc72-f3e16bf50bb6_story.html
I agree with KM says ! I also believe Darrell had a role in this! When i googled Darrell’s name it comes up and it says.Gand member arrested Hyattsville Md.I believe it was in 2011.I do not know 100% if its his brother but i sure am leaning that way.I do not believe the crap his brother was helping him turn Daron in! Why was there a bunch of money in the truck Daron’s brother was in
also?? I really don’t think its that hard to figure out ! Money in both vehicles. Sounds a little ……..
Gang
Aileen and KM, I think you may both be spot on about a connection between Darrell Wint and Jordan Wallace. But it all seems to coincidental that both Daron Wint AND Wallace had or did have at the time of the crime – work relationship with AIW/Savvas Savopoulos.
TOO coincidental.
Commenter, you rock!
maybe JW decided to take half or more (Wint only seemed to have 10K when arrested) of the money and skip town without really knowing what was going on, which inadvertently resulted in the hostage deaths. SS did try to contact JW at around noon that day, an hour and a half after the drop. why? and then there was some weird VM left on SS phone by JW on Friday? in which he was crying (do any of you remember hearing that?) all of this would “maybe” explain the lying and the seemingly guilty behavior of his mother.
Ampay, Yes to your very plausible scenario. My husband also was asking if it possible that Wallace took a larger cut then what had been agreed. And I also wonder about Wallace’s tearful voicemail messages which according to local DC news programs reports, there were at least 2 voicemail messages (1 to SS; 1 to AS) in which Wallace was obviously crying. I have never heard those messages, as I have the other which SS left for Nelly (housekeeper #2). I had also heard that they were left on Friday, May 15th? I thought that was a mistake? If true, wouldn’t those messages have been left on the day or the murders/fire? Thursday, May 14th and not the 15th? One last thing is I am confused about the money and money orders discovered in the box truck and/or Chevy when Wint was apprehended. It was reported in local print media, as well as local tv news, that U.S. Marshalls discovered 10K in same denomination as what was allegedly dropped off by Wallace on Thursday, May 14th. In addition to the 10K (all in hundred dollar bills) Marshalls found money orders AND copies of money orders. So does that mean Wint used 10K for laundering the other 10K? And then there was allegedly a $1,000 hired car trip from NY to Lanham, MD (or College Park, MD – not sure where the driver dropped him off). Plus while he was in NY visiting a girlfriend (who when interviewed told LE she sincerely believed he was turning himself in) would he have given her money, or spent some while with her? And if he was so “sincere” about turning himself in; why hadn’t she assisted that in happening by calling the police and telling them where he was? Same with the brother, Darrell. It was reported his father said the only reason Darrell was with Daron, the night he was arrested having left a College Park, MD hotel. And was cornered by LE just over the DC line in NE, DC. Why hadn’t his brother alerted LE to Daron’s location if he was truly “helping” Daron to turn himself in to police?
It’s always better to walk yourself in than to wait to be arrested. Though truthfully in his case it probably wouldn’t matter. He was getting held no matter how his arrest was effected.
When you notify police ahead of time you let them know where you will surrender yourself.
If, and that’s a big if, Wint was turning himself in he may have wanted his own witnesses to the surrender. Who knows what this guy was thinking. He just fired one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the country with a world of unlimited resources at his disposal and hired one with almost no appropriate experience. Go figure.
Jana – That’s a good point that maybe Wint was afraid to surrender alone and wanted a lot of people around him. Perhaps his brother did contact LE but they’ve not reported this part of the story.
Also very interesting about Wint changing counsel. I don’t know who any of these guys are but believe you about their reputations and expertise. Very weird that Wint would fire a well respected and excellent defense attorney for another who appears to work immigration cases.
Could his legal rep change have something to do with this: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/06/08/report-suspect-in-quadruple-murder-of-d-c-family-flagged-for-deportation/
Treya, Wint’s immigration problems are as relevant at this point as any child support payments he has or traffic cases he has pending in Maryland. That is, they don’t really matter.
If Wint is convicted he doesn’t have to worry about deportation because he’ll be spending the rest of his life in a federal prison right here in the US.
Defendants do all kinds of weird things. Often without rationale. Maybe his PDS attorneys were too honest with him about his chances and were trying to get him to cooperate in exchange for a better plea (though what that could be I’m not sure). Maybe the new attorney was singing a different tune and telling Wint what he wanted to hear. Maybe the PDS attorneys wanted him to consider psychiatric defenses and Wint was having none of that. Lots of maybes – which, of course, just means I really don’t have an answer.
For the record, criminal attorneys are now expected to be as sufficiently versed in immigration law as are attorneys who claim to concentrate on it. The Supreme Court ruled in Padilla v. Kentucky that defense counsel have an affirmative duty to provide non-citizens with competent advice on immigration consequences resulting from a guilty plea – concommitantly that also means the consequences of rejecting a plea offer, going to trial and losing. Failure to so advise may mean the attorney rendered ineffective assistance of counsel. PDS has its own immigration specialized attorneys.
It seems possible that Wallace IS singing and that’s why all is quiet and he is MIA AND LE has neither arrested him nor cleared him with the media, despite that they must have enough info by this point to reach some conclusions.
Thx!! I can’t imagine the turmoil that Mr. Wint (dad) went through/is going through. Maybe Darrell was a good boy, (or at least not involved in a quadruple homicide and trying to get his brother under control). Maybe Darrell got the monetary reward for bringing in Daron.
I obviously have no better idea than anyone else, but from the facts I have read/heard:
Jordan Wallace told LE that he headed to work at the dojo after dropping off the money.
He contacted an administrator to let that person know that he was instructed to work at the dojo.
I don’t think there has been a single word from anyone, verified or unverified that actually went to the dojo. (This something I would love to know.)
It has not been clarified by LE or even MSM WHEN Jordan Wallace stated he got these instructions.
So, much is left to interpretation.
Especially because Jordan Wallace lied about his other actions on the same day.
KM, I also would like confirmation regarding if Wallace was at the dojo Thurs, 5/14. I know Nelly worked there on Wednesday. I wonder if she was there Thursday? If Wallace was working at the martial arts center, which was scheduled to have its grand opening the next day, Friday 5/15, how long was he there and what project(s) had been assigned to him. Were these tasks started? Were they completed? What is Wallace’s story on Savvas’ schedule for Thursday, 5/14? As personal assistant and driver, he would have known Savvas’ schedule for that day. Was he attending an auction? Was he to work at the dojo in preparation for its grand opening? Why did it take so long for Wallace to return Savvas’ phone call? As personal assistant, he was to be ready and available.1+ hours for a call back is inexcusable considering Wallace’s job title.
Nelly wasn’t scheduled to work for the Savopoulos’ on Thursday–she was working at another home. Which is one of the reasons she found it odd that Savvas and Amy both told her not to come.
Thanks Ginny. I also heard that but wasn’t sure if to not come to the house may have meant to work at the dojo instead. Considering if was to open the following day.
Treya,
Here are the source documents to show that Savvas’ Mother called Nelly and where Nelly was on Thursday: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mansion-Murder-NW-DC-Woodley-Four-Dead-Savopoulos-Housekeeper-304439421.html
Article, showing that Savvas’ sister Debra spoke to him on Thursday morning. Our fellow sleuth~ Ginny made the discovery that Debra Masser, is the controller at AIW. No real surprise there, since AIW was founded by her and father, who has since took back running the company after Savvas’ death.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-continues-into-mysterious-deaths-of-four-in-burning-dc-home/2015/05/15/8936d0aa-fb24-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html
oops, meant to say “her father”, not “her and father”.
Clue Bird,
I think you’ll find this article interesting. 🙂
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
Arrest Made for Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute – News Release
NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
● 7500 Maple Avenue ● Takoma Park, Md 20912
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901
December 3, 2011 (8:49 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Ronald A. Ricucci of the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of Darrell Wint, 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Marijuana with the intent to distribute.
On December 2, 2011, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Takoma Park Police and the Takoma Park Gang Investigator were conducting an investigation into complaints in the Maple Avenue Corridor, specifically the 7700 block of Maple Avenue, for CDS activity. Officers entered an apartment building and observed Wint walking towards them. As soon as Wint approached the officers, they could smell the odor of fresh marijuana emanating from the area where Wint was standing………………………………………………………………
Full article: http://tppolice.blogspot.com/2011/12/arrest-made-for-possession-of.html
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Tim is a reporter or he would not be discovering facts about this case that have been out in the public for days/weeks by relying on the comments section of another journalist’s blog. Good reporters have researchers, or are great researchers themselves. They don’t like to be late to the party. 🙂
I logged off early last night and apparently missed many posts.
First to Commenter: I’m flattered that you think I may be a reporter – I think – but I assure you I’m just a regular Joe like everyone else here with an interest in the case. However, I’ve always thought I may have missed my calling to be an investigative reporter, so thanks.
Lots to catch up on this morning from all the posts but for now, let me say that I’m still of the mindset that Wallace had nothing to do with this crime. The biggest piece of “evidence” that’s been offered here against him is that he “lied” to police at questioning, and even they’ve said they’re not sure why he did that. I think if it was to cover his ass, they would’ve figured that out by now.
Wint has been in custody for a few weeks now and as someone pointed out, he’s not singing. Perhaps he has nothing to sing about re Wallace. Maybe he doesn’t even know Wallace, contrary to what many here want to believe based solely on the fact that they lived in the same apartment complex (but we DON’T know if it was even at the same time).
And even if they did – and based on what we’ve read about their respective personalities – I can’t see where JW would want to be friends with DW (either DW for that matter, or both). One set of that equation is made up of thugs with criminal backgrounds, possible gang affiliation, previous assault, jail time, etc, and the other side is a presumably ambitious guy with a love for and a desire to advance in racing, and was taking steps to realize his dream, and no history at all of violent behavior. Really, he’s just all of a sudden going to turn robber/torturer/murderer because he’s envious and/or wants to go to Italy for a race and think he wouldn’t get caught? Really? Sorry, but all these so-called connections are – individually or in whole – flimsy at best and careless at worst, IMO. I know many of you are convinced of JW’s guilt, but aren’t you hungry for something really solid and concrete to nail this guy with? As it is, none of this stuff would hold up in court, if it even made it that far.
I’ll see if I can access those “Inside Edition” episodes online; I missed those, so thanks for the head’s up.
Wint is apparently due in court today for a hearing (moved up from next Tuesday) with his new lawyer, Sean Hanover of Fairfax. Probably won’t learn much new there though, other than another round of “not guilty”. Not sure how they’re gonna explain away the pizza DNA when that time comes, or whatever other physical evidence LE has by now that they’ve not shared yet. At least we won’t have to hear any more from Robin Flicker in any official capacity.
I would hardly call a recently fired, 28-year old who still has a silly fantasy of becoming a successful race car driver ambitious. And there are plenty of ‘ambitious’, clean cut individuals who cross paths with people who are involved in criminal activity. It’s not a stretch to say that DW or family member could have been your local, friendly marijuana dealer.
And not many people are calling JW a murderer. I don’t think whoever helped plan this all had the intention of killing anyone. But whoever did plan this had to have insider knowledge and access to the home to know about the dogs, alarm system, family routine etc. DW is dumb but not that dumb. He would have not entered that residence without knowing what to expect.
I also think that it was quite likely that if JW did double cross Wint (took more cash than his share), then Wint may have wanted to “frame” JW for everything. How? Stealing the porsche, setting it on fire, then watching Wallace squirm. Wallace (not Wint) was the last person to have interacted with Savvas and it was a KNOWN fact how much Wallace loved driving Mrs. Savopoulos’ 2008 blue porsche 911, a car that few people would own….
Thanks BS, and welcome. I would disagree; not sure why he was fired, etc, but the reality is that he was involved in the local racing circuit, had sponsors, did work for Autobahn, launched a website, created a BRC group, got hired by SS to coach PS… I mean, he wasn’t sitting around, getting high and TALKING about what he wanted to do – he was making it happen. I’d still call that ambitious. And why was it “silly”? Jay Howard started his career somewhere.
As to your other question…was there anyone else who’d been around the house even longer than the few weeks that JW had been? Someone who’d been around for years maybe?
Tim:
Never miss out on your true calling in life. If you do what you’re really good at, it’s really not like work, it’s more of a vocation, not so much an avocation.
And, if you were to gain a degree in criminal justice, you could easily become a LE detective or a private investigator. You seem to exhibit a methodical nature, persistence, and enjoy following up on situations in person to corroborate fact from fiction…. and you keep your mind keenly focused on facts over speculation. If you are a patient person and understand psychology, you could most certainly try your hand at cracking cases. JMO.
Nelly wasn’t there. She was working at another family’s home.
Money is the root of all EVIL !
I am shaking my head over the possible change in attorneys. I haven’t heard if there is an update and the court computer still reflects PDS as attorneys but perhaps others know if there was a decision by Judge Winston on replacement counsel. The new putative attorneys have entered their appearances but the court has to grant permission for change of counsel in a criminal case.
It’s a difficult position to be in for her. There is case law in DC that grants the right to a criminal defendant to the attorney of choice if they retain them ( Harling v. U.S. ) but the judge has the responsibility in a criminal case unlike in a civil case to ensure the defendant is competently represented. Throwing away free representation by one of the best, if not THE best, public defender offices in the country – not to mention they have one of the best attorneys at PDS (a literal miracle worker) – is mind blowing. Add to that all the resources this PDS office has in terms of all kinds experts at their disposal and the money to hire them and the ability go head to head against the Us Attorney’s Office.
Maybe it doesn’t matter in this case because a lawyer may think they can get the guy to plead guilty so they may be fooled into thinking they can handle it, but there are so many issues both for trial prep and getting a plea offer and sentencing that may matter very much. PDS has all the resources to handle all this. Even if a lawyer is willing to do this for next to nothing to get publicity there will be tens of thousands of dollars on numerous experts for both trial and sentencing and transcripts and investigation, etc. Experts and investigators aren’t working for free – especially not for this defendant.
Maybe the family would be happy to see Daron never get out. In the end, it’s his decision, not his family’s.
Jana, you seem to be from the legal profession (possibly an attorney yourself), do you
suppose that the evidence presented thus far (DNA on the pizza crust; the bloody bat; blood found on Wint’s shoe; blood splattered foot print on the door) prompted the change in attorneys? Or perhaps she (the former public defender) didn’t want to be in a high profile case any longer because it could drag on for months (years)?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/02/us/washington-mansion-fire-slayings-suspect/
^^^^ Article describes the blood (of one of the victims) found on Wint’s shoe.
opps, meant to write “blood splattered shoe print”.
Clue Bird, this is what PDS does. They handle the toughest cases which are often high profile and take forever. I can’t imagine they would ever back down on a case. So, no, that doesn’t seem like a reason.
PDS has a very high opinion of itself – usually completely justified but not always. I think Arthur Ago was the lead attorney though perhaps they weren’t distinguishing between the 2 PDS lawyers – Natalie Lawson beong the other PDS attorney. Ago has walked clients out of court in very difficult cases the government was sure of a slam dunk conviction. Of course, it appears that would truly be a miracle in this case.
But there are a lot of other ways to benefit your client even if a conviction is the result. Now maybe this new attorney can rise to the occasion and maybe Wint was somehow convinced what they erroneously call a “paid” attorney was better – a common error in judgment among some defendants.
People should remind themselves so far we only have the government side of things. The DNA and blood evidence hasn’t even been challenged yet – though if recovered and tested properly it’s become near impossible to challenge DNA.
20/20 interviewed the forensic specialist who tested the DNA. He was very credible and the technical equipment used is the best in the world.
Imo, Daron Wint’s defense side does not have a chance of refuting the DNA successfully against the State since it is on the pizza, fingerprints on a water bottle and unnamed blood on his boot.
All experts are subject to challenge. The lab used by DC is a mess – this is a new lab and it is backed up and a mess – unbelievable. Anyway I believe they contracted out for this testing.
Further, one can always challenge the collection process. Besides the usual errors that can occur in collecting the evidence, this crime scene was a bit of a mess with all the environmental factors any sample could have been exposed to.
Wanna bet this new lawyer has little, if any, experience challenging forensic experts?
Well, Wint went and did it. He’s an idiot extraordinaire. It is possible that retained attorneys can make application to the court for help hiring experts but he won’t get near what PDS can do with no permission needed from a court.
The first thing Wint needs is a full psychological and psychiatric work up including an MRI. Good luck getting the kind of money you really need for all that.
I notice the new attorney, who seems to be more of an immigration attorney, is talking immigration law – the very least of Wint’s problems at the moment.
This should prove very interesting.
Thanks for that info Clue Bird. I read several articles where Masser (Savvas’ sister was interviewed) and she discussed their phone conversation. It was also mentioned in a few of these interviews that she was an employee at AIW but I did not know her title. Although I knew about the last phone call they had, thought it very strange that she didn’t pick up on anything. Maybe as you’ve said, Savvas’ martial arts training gave him the strength to be even keeled and sounded normal even in the unimaginable situation he was acting within.
I actually thought he sounded normal in the message to Nelly but I don’t know what normal was for SS. Nelly said she thought he sounded stressed. I wish a journalist would inquire as to what Nelly thought of the screaming in the background.
I feel great sorrow for Ms. Masser. If I were her, I would be replaying everything Savvas said, over and over and over; trying to detect a secret message for help. I’m very close to my brother and can’t imagine what she’s going through.
Treya, everyone handles grief differently. But replaying how you went wrong and how you missed saving your lived one’s life is torture. Finding closure and moving on may just mean not beating yourself up over things you couldn’t know and can’t change and letting go.
People who have lost a love one to violence often say they want to know every detail, see every picture and witness everything in court. Now some people may be able to handle this but for most I think this is a lot different than they expect. It may not deliver any kind of closure and it will most certainly leave them with images and knowledge that will haunt them forever and become unbearable. Our loved ones would never want their survivors to be so tortured. Just my opinion.
Hi Jana,Of course. This is well known. Some cry. Others smile. Some are stoic. I understand everyone handles grief and tragedy differently. I’ve had 2 close friends killed in strange unexpected circumstances. I went over my last words with them; last times hanging out with them for many years after. That’s how I handled tragedy of 2 people who died via accidents before they were 25 years old. If my brother were to die a violent death due to a situation which I believed I may have been able to favorably alter, I imagine the camera in my mind’s eye would be even more active. But that’s just me and how I handle tragedy and guilt for inadvertently hastening another’s demise. jmho
Treya,
We really don’t know what went down in that house, other than torture took place, four innocent people lost their lives; and a brick house was set ablaze.
Both you and a fellow poster ~ampay suggested that Wallace may have gotten greedy and took more than he should, only for Wint & his thugs to become enraged (especially when calling Wallace at 11:54 a.m.) didn’t produce any results! The thugs might then believed that Savvas was lying to them so they decided to destroy any evidence pointing to them, should Wallace “talk.”
This theory also lends itself to why the Mosler’s registration form was found in Wallace’s backpack. From a video clip that I sourced yesterday, TWO red cars (the Mosler) parked in the garage and (the Audi) parked in the driveway were at the family home. So perhaps, Savvas GAVE everything that everyone demanded, thinking that if he appeased them, then they would go away.
Remember that Savvas had his J.D. besides being a businessman. Like any attorney, he knew how to communicate and how to negotiate.
I also believe that Savvas’ steady composure, courage, kept he and the others alive for much longer than one would expect to see, in these types of violent crimes. Maybe Savvas under estimated Wint’s savagery, and thought that the longer they remained alive, the more they were likely to be “discovered”.
For these reasons, I don’t think his sister could have done anything differently that would have changed the outcome. The only game changer might have been if the police were called by Vera’s husband and they came quickly and scared the assailants off.
Clue Bird, I’m not blaming anyone but I can understand why his sister, in the one interview I read of her (very surprised she even agreed to it) could not really speak. She just said he sounded completely normal; happy and upbeat. Then she repeated several times, “What can I say? What can I say? What can I say? I cannot say anything.” Or something along those lines. Did Savvas’ sister think the request of 40K normal? Had she spoke to Savvas about the 40K withdrawal?
There were many times, in addition to Savvas’ sister’s last interaction with him, where someone could have requested police to conduct a welfare check. Nelly said in several interviews that Savvas’ voice sounded different and stressed. She also said that Vera never “Never!” stayed overnight and she was unable to contact Vera or Amy even after multiple attempts.
Vera’s husband also thought everything was very strange during those two tragic days. Strange enough for him to go to the mansion. But even that produced more questions for him because he explains that Vera did not speak English very well and could not drive so why would Amy Savopoulos need Vera at the hospital?
The “special” instructions for Dominos pizza delivery. I can assure you they’ve never before received any instructions to leave food on a porch. There was no reason for a door bell to be wrung, or phone to ring. She could have requested to be texted when the delivery person arrived. That makes a lot more sense.
At least 1 neighbor reported seeing both of the Savopoulos’ dogs walking around the neighborhood unsupervised. Something he’d never witnessed before.
And I don’t know if this is the same neighbor’s mysterious account which they claimed “made my hair stand on end” (or something to that effect), is the same neighbor who saw their dogs wandering around. If not, this is another person, who could have notified police that something may not be right at the Savopoulos home.
Treya,
I can’t fault the pizza man because for all we know, it might be common practice today for busy families to call in their order (while in transport) and to give their debit/credit card number over the phone. I have done this on my way home/during lunch hour, but I typically place a carry out order, not a home/work delivery.
Regarding Bernardo Afaro & Nellie Gutierrez’s failure to notify LE and ask for a house check. Their reluctance might have been due to past cultural experiences. Vera’s age was reported as 57, so Bernardo and Nellie are probably in their 50’s, late 40’s. Old enough to remember El Salvador’s bloody civil war, where 75,000 people were killed between 1980-1992. Many families fled and came to the U.S. to seek sanctuary and to AVOID the government death squads. For this reason, perhaps Bernardo & Nellie are afraid of LE or any government official. Nellie had nothing to gain from participating in a plot. I feel that she truly cared for the family and her close friend Vera and is thankful that she narrowly escaped death, once again.
Jana,
I was under the impression that convicted non-U.S. citizens are deported. They do their time in prison in their home country? This article even states: Wint, a citizen of Guyana, could face deportation if he is convicted. So why do you allege the opposite is true?
As for the traffic violations and that he’s a dead beat dad? The state will never recoup money for Wint’s violations and the mother of his child will never see a dime. That’s a given.
“They do their time in prison in their home country?”
Yea, Wint will wish that was the case. Might be easier to buy his way to an easier incarceration – no offense meant to the Guyanese prison system. No, they do their time here. It is rare that people are deported to do their time in their home country. That would take extraordinary circumstances that don’t appear to be present here.
Any deportation adjudicated in deportation proceedings would be carried out after his sentence is completed. And maybe even not then since a convicted person could still be under the supervision of the parole commission.
My point about minor legal issues is that they don’t matter for Wint – same as worrying about deportation – it doesn’t matter.
I wonder why this article and others report otherwise? Why do they state that Daron Wint could be deported if convicted? Is it bad reporting?
I also wonder why the state would want to waste their own money and resources when a criminal could be deported to do the time in their own country. They are also refused entry into U.S. every again. Doesn’t make sense to me as a U.S. tax paying citizen or from a legal perspective. Why bother “flagging” Daron Wint for deportation?
Darrell Wint of Takoma Park, MD (which is a town in MARYLAND right on the MD-DC line) MySpace page and photos of his connections (I think it’s all females). There’s also 1 photo of Darrell Wint with a male.
https://myspace.com/430664563/connections/out
Thanks for the visual. He depicts the gansta look with hand gestures and all!
To view Darrell Wint’s Maryland arrest record: http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis
Darrell Wint’s arrest record for Maryland: http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis
Wait, Wint’s new attorney is saying his client is a U.S. citizen.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/man-accused-of-killing-four-in-mansion-appears-in-court-tuesday/2015/06/16/5fe112c0-1441-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html?wprss=rss_crime&tid=sm_tw_pl
If so then why are we even discussing deportation? I sure hope this isn’t how he got hired- by making pie in the sky promises to Wint and his family. Because when these promises prove fruitless, well, Hanover, you in danger, gurl.
I don’t know. All I ever read was that Daron Wint has legal status as a permanent resident and is NOT a U.S. citizen.
If he is a U.S. citizen, why did ICE flag Wint for deportation and request a detainer from arresting LE?
Good question. He certainly had enough time to become a US citizen but with all his criminal matters, even without resulting in convictions, that can delay applications or get denied.
Pull up a chair and get some popcorn.
Sounds good. I’ll bring the wine. 🙂
Why am I not surprised Treya? Did you catch the last part in the blogspot article you posted: “Wint is a self-admitted gang member”. Yep, Darrell Wint & Daron Wint most likely were supplying pot to Wallace.
In an earlier thread, I came across a small detail that might be significant.
I read from Nate’s research on a different thread, where Daron Wint’s last known address was his sister Samantha’s apartment. For some reason the Wint family likes the 85th Avenue Apartments, for her address as recent as February 2015, shows her residing at 5408 85th Avenue, T-2, Lanham, Maryland.
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (where Amy’s Porsche was found) is located at 8001 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, MD 20784, according to the Church’s website. However, newer maps list the town as being “Lanham” now with a 20706 zipcode.
How convenient would it be then (if sister Sam was still residing in the 85th Avenue apartments) for Wint, his brother, or Wallace to torch the porsche and run 2 minutes away from the scene back to her place?
In both the house fire and car fires, the assailants a) found a quick access to their getaway b) used fire to destroy evidence c) remained close enough to watch things from “a distance”.
“‘Wint is a self-admitted gang member’ Yep, Darrell Wint & Daron Wint most likely were supplying pot to Wallace.”
Clue bIrd, that’s quite a leap. Even for inferences you need evidence to base them on.
And for what it’s worth, not all gangs sell drugs. Not all drug selling gangs sell marijuana.
Jana,
You obviously didn’t read the article that Treya posted for me to read up thread for if you would have, you would have read these words found in a Takoma, MD Police Dept. communication report dated 12/3/2011 that states:
“Chief Ronald A. Ricucci of the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of Darrell Wint, 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Marijuana with the intent to distribute.”
Funny how Darrell Wint (now age 28/29) is close in age to Jordan Wallace.
I thought I read somewhere that Daron used a brother’s name once when arrested. No idea which brother and if it was corrected.
Possession with intent to distribute is often simple possession of an amount that the govt illogically has deemed is too much for personal use or packaged in a way to sell – another illogical assumption because it’s the same way you buy it. It’s a BS amount – it also wrongly assumed that no one buys an ounce or more for personal use. Which, of course, is a ridiculous assumption. Sometimes the penalty is the same for possession and for PWID so some defendants don’t care which they plead guilty to. For instance it could be a few joints or a few zips and they call it PWID. Or the govt will claim because it’s in a ziplock – even a tiny one – then it’s packaged for sale and therefore you get charged with PWID (possession with intent to distribute).
The drug laws have changed over time and a lot more recently so without more I’m not willing to say Wint was a drug dealer based on a PWID marijuana conviction or charge. Now if the facts were he had a number of ounces, a scale, packages of empty zips, and lots of money then you got me – yea, probably a dealer of sorts.
But importantly this is Darrell and not Daron.
The article says that he was found with about half a pound, scale, and plastic bags. So distribution sounds like a logical endeavor.
I was curious about Darrel’s background because of the many reports that his father remarked that the only reason for Darrell to be with Daron when he was apprehended was because Darrell was assisting him and turning himself in to LE.
Now that I’ve seen his Maryland criminal record (and maybe he has a record in other states like his bro) I have my doubts that the reason he was caught with Daron is because he was helping Daron turn himself in to police. But I could be wrong.
Thanks for the details, Treya.
Jana,
When dealing with human beings (who are somewhat unpredictable), I find that “Inductive Reasoning” works best when coupled with common sense and a willingness to consider other people’s perspectives and life experiences.
Inductive Reasoning takes a specific example, or examples and Induce that they can be applied to a larger group. Whereas, Deductive Reasoning starts with a general principle and deduces that it applies to a specific case.
Inductive Reasoning is used to try to discover a new piece of information, while Deductive Reasoning is used to prove it.
Jurors use both types of reasoning when making their decisions on the evidence presented them, but most will filter the information through their own world view and what seems plausible/unlikely to them.
Okay, Clue Bird, none of this inductive-deductive-reductive jargon. Do you just want to confuse me? LOL!
UNITED STATES v. DARON WINT
May 22, 2015 SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARREST WARRANT AFFIDAVIT –
Page 2 of 2 has this tidbit: Additionally, on March 23, 2015, the defendant was arrested in the District of Columbia for receiving stolen property and he provided a false name of Steffon Wint (his brother’s name) at the time of that arrest. The defendant was assigned a PDID 703045 at the time of his arrest under the name Steffon Wint and is thus identified in MPD law enforcement databases as Steffon Wint.
4 pages of documents at this link:
http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2086397-wint-darron-dellon-dennis-supplement-may-2015.html
“On December 2, 2011, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Takoma Park Police and the Takoma Park Gang Investigator were conducting an investigation into complaints in the Maple Avenue Corridor, specifically the 7700 block of Maple Avenue, for CDS activity. Officers entered an apartment building and observed Wint walking towards them. As soon as Wint approached the officers, they could smell the odor of fresh marijuana emanating from the area where Wint was standing………………………………………………………………”
Full article: http://tppolice.blogspot.com/2011/12/arrest-made-for-possession-of.html
Clue BIrd, According to Nate Thayer’s excellent reporting, Wint’s sister DOES live in that same apartment complex adjacent to the church parking lot where the Porsche was torched. She moved there in February of 2015 which makes me think she still resides at that address. I find the research of the addresses of both Wint and Wallace AND/OR their respective families have lived for many years, extremely compelling. Doesn’t matter if Wallace lived full-time in Annapolis with his mom and visited his dad on the weekends, or during the summer (I assume his parents are divorced or separated?). I know when staying with my grandparents, my siblings and I would hang out with the other kids on my grandparents’ block. I didn’t necessarily personally like some of them. It was just hanging out with people my own age.
Absolutely! Peer relationships are an important part of a child’s emotional growth and independence. I remember after my divorce moving into a new neighborhood with my daughter, an only child. Within a few days she started telling me the names of several of the kids in the neighborhood (she was 9 years old). To my astonishment, I asked her how she knew them, when we hadn’t interacted with anyone. Her answer was priceless! “I knocked on the doors and asked where all the kids live!”
“I knocked on the doors and asked where all the kids live!”
I love that. Smart, resourceful kid.
Yes, she us as independent as they come. All grown up now and living in LA.
Very cool that your daughter had the self-confidence to seek out friends in a new environment no less! I wish I would have been more like that growing up. 🙂
Where or where did Wint’s broke mother’s side of the family get the ca$h to hire an immigration lawyer to try a criminal case??? Do they really think they can keep Daron Wint from being deported by I.C.E. when he inevitably will be on his way to a supermax prison for the rest of his natural life? Unless, the federal jurisdiction steps in and puts capital punishment back on the table.
Firing his pro bono attorneys makes about as much sense as taking along the family’s cell phones and driving around in circles around the Ho Jo’s straight into the Marshall’s 6-pin vehicle ambush!!
I noticed Wint’s father did not contribute his hard-earned money to his lost cause son. It would make him look foolish after taking a protective order. Given his own statements to the media about Daron Wint, he and his wife likely prefer his son to just stay away locked up behind bars!
In the final analysis, the pizza delivered to residence and Wint’s DNA on the food, fingerprint on the water bottle and blood on the boot make these smoking guns a defense nightmare. The hard evidence is overwhelming, along with the monies confiscated from inside the Chevy Cruze and the box truck.
They do not even need to bring in Wint’s illustrious record of past violent acts to make this case a slam dunk.
If he had half a brain cell, Wint ought to declare himself as guilty of being a total scourge on the face of humanity…. and, name ALL of the accomplices…… but, as we all know, don’t hold your breath on that one!
Agree Commenter. Why would they fire his excellent defense attorney for someone Jana said looks to be more of an immigration lawyer than criminal? Yet another thing which doesn’t make any sense. I never heard anything about his biological mother before. Do you know where she lives? I do feel very sorry for his father, step-mom, and half-sister. His father appears to be a decent person and made a moving and sincere sounding statement to the victims’ families. Although his comments that Darrell was going to help bring Daron in to LE seem completely wrong. Or that’s what Darrell told him, and he believed him to be telling the truth.
100 Plus Murders Allegedly Committed by Illegal Immigrants Released by US Government
I read Daron Wint is a naturalized US citizen. And, I also posted an article about I.C.E. wanting to gain seizure of Wint after his prison sentence is completed… which would be this side of hell freezing over given the preponderance of evidence.
And, the released accomplices who laundered the money and aided and abetted will certainly turn on Daron Wint eventually, in exchange for reduced sentence plea deals.
So, perhaps the family was sold a bill of goods that they should hire an Immigration lawyer to work his magic on the system in a criminal defense trial… the concept is ludicrous sounding, but here is a recent article of interest regarding foreign criminals who commit murders on US soil and are subsequently extradited back to their homelands.
http://www.inquisitr.com/2175260/100-plus-murders-allegedly-committed-by-illegal-immigrants-released-by-u-s-government/
Jana, You’re correct according to what I’ve both seen and heard about this case. Daron Wint did try to trick LE and claimed (and I believe also produced photo ID) to be his brother, Darrell.
Does anyone have any thoughts about the white plastic bucket the person running in the grainy cctv footage obtained from a catering company next to the church parking lot where Amy S’s 911 (so sadly ironic) Porsche was set on fire? LE publicly stated that they found the same or very similar white plastic buckets in the mansion garage. Does anyone know if LE recovered THE bucket the person of interest had been seen carrying? Also the reflective vest witnesses claimed the person driving Amy’s Porsche was said to be wearing? And reports (not sure if they’re true) that the same vests were also found in the garage at the mansion. If LE did find that type of vest at the S’s home, why would the person who stole and drove the Porsche wear a vest which landscapers and contractors wear? My idea on the plastic bucket is gross but the only thing which makes sense imo. The perpetrator(s) of these crimes used the bucket as a personal toilet believing they’d avoid leaving any dna. I have no idea why someone committing a crime would choose to wear a vest which would might make them stand out more. I’ve reviewed that cctv footage from the church parking lot and really think it looks much more like Daron Wint than Jordan Wallace.
Wasn’t it you Treya, who reported seeing a new house construction site near the mansion? If so, it would be the perfect ruse for strange young black men to be hanging in the neighborhood. People would be less likely to question their presence, when seeing men in construction vests.
People who have lived in a neighborhood for any length of time, know who belongs and who “looks strange.”
Those construction vests can be bought for $6 at any Home Depot. My Church’s parking attendants use these types of vests for personal safety.
If Wint’s sister Samantha still lives adjacent to the church in the 85th Avenue Apartments, perhaps she has some at her place or they could be use to siphon gas or as a urinal, as you stated.
Hi Clue Bird, Yes but believe it or not the contractors I observed over the last several months on Normandstone Terrace (a few blocks from the mansion) are at least 75% white. Very few African American working or living in that neighborhood from what we’ve observed before and after this tragic event.
I know what you mean about blending in by wearing a reflective vest but my question was why would someone wear one of those vests while driving? Especially driving a Porsche? If the person in the grainy cctv video was the person who had stolen and driven Amy’s Porsche to the church parking lot. I think that he would have had his hoodie on while driving. But a reflective vest over his hoodie?
I don’t even think they’d have had to purchase those vests. I know for fact it’s been reported on local DC news affiliates, several with Nelly being interviewed (although she said she never saw them) that LE retrieved several reflective vests from the garage at the Savopoulos mansion. These vests may have belonged to the garage contractor who had been working at the mansion. Or perhaps they kept them on hand for landscapers and such.
All workers in that neighborhood tend to be wearing reflective vests whereas, for instance, in my neighborhood where the “gem” homes are in the 500-600K range, I’ve never even see their worker bees wearing those kind of vests. Today was the first day we saw a landscaper not wearing one of those vests in the area of the mansion. He was mowing the lawn outside of the gate next to the sidewalk,of I believe the home of an ambassador, at 3117 Woodland Drive NW.
“Does anyone have any thoughts about the white plastic bucket” in the video after the Porsche fire?
Wonder if it held gasoline? He must have had some to start the fire in the car and where did it come from? I’m sure they checked surveillance videos of gas stations along the route. Unless he was able to get some at the Woodland house and needed something to transport it in. Did he ise an accelrant at the house. If so, then he may have left a proper gasoline container at the scene.
“Also the reflective vest . . . ”
Maybe he used it to cover blood. Though he could have easily changed into something from the house.
Witnesses are often simply wrong in their recollections of events, times. the chron order of things and especially wrong about identifications. So who knows which witnesses are reliable.
Just throwing ideas out there.
gasoline is an excellent guess. another poster corrected me. le said that they located very similar (possible the same) large white buckets at wint’s father’s home or at his sister’s apartment. the bucket seen in the cctv footage was probably not from the savopoulos home. and i don’t know if it was every recovered.
yes. wint used gasoline inside the mansion as well. first responders said they could smell gasoline in the home and on the victims. they also found a pack of matches at the top of the stairs. not sure about gas can or container used for gas inside the mansion.
Treya,
Up-thread 6/16/2015 AT 9:09 PM, you wrote this:
“At least 1 neighbor reported seeing both of the Savopoulos’ dogs walking around the neighborhood unsupervised. Something he’d never witnessed before.”
“And I don’t know if this is the same neighbor’s mysterious account which they claimed “made my hair stand on end” (or something to that effect), is the same neighbor who saw their dogs wandering around. If not, this is another person, who could have notified police that something may not be right at the Savopoulos home.”
What is your source for the information about the neighbor seeing both dogs walking around the neighborhood unsupervised?
All I could find is that ‘the dogs were in the yard at the time of the fire’:
*One neighbor told the Washington Post that he had not seen anything unusual at the home. A grass cutting crew had been there that morning as usual and the couple’s dogs were in the yard at the time of the fire, he said.*
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082414/One-child-three-adults-dead-million-dollar-family-home-affluent-suburbs-D-C-suspected-arson-attack.html
An interesting aside – GOOGLE EARTH currently shows the Savopoulos house with image dated 8/2014 -3201 Woodland Drive NW. On the image, there is a middle-aged blond woman (Amy?) walking a dog on a leash on the sidewalk directly across from the home. The dog looks like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
SmartiPantz you used to be Sleuth?
Oy vey this is getting confusing. 🙂
I asked another poster here Tom about their dogs being seen loose and he said he heard that report as well. He thinks it was on local DC channel 9 news which is our CBS affiliate.
I’m going to start writing down, or dvr-ing news segments because I cannot keep track of where I heard or read stuff. Only recently began book marking online articles.
That Google street image of the blonde woman is not Amy.
I’m sorry I cannot say anything more about their dogs being observed walking about without supervision. If I find anything I will post it.
I’m still trying to find the local news affiliate which reported a few days after the murders (perhaps over that weekend, or early the following week) that the extortionist(s) were trying to have tens of thousands of dollars wired from Savvas’ and Amy’s bank accounts. THAT is why they were still alive until the following afternoon. We know we heard this reported on a local DC news affiliate. It was reported a few times on the same day or two days. Then we never heard more about wire transfers. But it is the only thing which made any sense to my husband and I about why they weren’t murdered until 2 hours after the money was dropped off.
Maybe the news report was completely wrong? Or perhaps FBI and other agencies asked that the refrain from reporting this to the public due to (hopefully) more arrests, impending grand jury, and trial(s)?
No. I am not Sleuth. Although, I have often been called a sleuth!
Treya – Re: your reply to my post from a few days ago.
While the Google Earth image dated August 2014 (blond woman walking a dog on sidewalk across from the Savopoulos house) has absolutely nothing to do with solving these horrific crimes, I am curious how you know “That Google street image of the blonde woman is not Amy.”
I think it looks like Amy, but I don’t know whether it is or isn’t her. How do you know the woman in the image is not Amy?
smartipantz wrote: Treya – Re: your reply to my post from a few days ago.
While the Google Earth image dated August 2014 (blond woman walking a dog on sidewalk across from the Savopoulos house) has absolutely nothing to do with solving these horrific crimes, I am curious how you know “That Google street image of the blonde woman is not Amy.”
I think it looks like Amy, but I don’t know whether it is or isn’t her. How do you know the woman in the image is not Amy?
The Savopoulos family had spent 2014 in the Caribbean. They were not living at their Woodland Normanstone mansion in NW, DC.
Sorry I do not have any links. When I heard these stories relayed by friends that 1 of the daughters had suffered a concussion (sounded serious) the family (for reasons unknown to me) decided that living in the Caribbean would be best for her health and recovery.
I guess it could be Amy. My gut instinct says it’s not but I cannot find any conclusive evidence that the Savopoulos family was not living in DC part of 2014. Another reason, is if they had two Chessies in 2014, wouldn’t she be walking both of them? Lastly, this woman (with blurred face) looks thinner to me that Mrs. Savopoulos, although some photos of her could have been when she was pregnant or different weight than in others. It’s difficult to tell through undated photos, or photos with year only.
My apologies if I sounded like I knew for certain. I don’t work for Google maps and I’m not a journalist privy to special info.
If you have special info, of can figure out if they were living in DC when the Google image was snapped, then if very well could be her.
Abigail’s Facebook page shows a July 2014 posting to attend a concert in Washington DC, so I’d presume she (and Amy, too) were in Washington DC at that time, and the Google street image is dated August 2014:
Abigail M. Savopoulos rsvp’d to a concert with Bandsintown. July 8, 2014 –
Jason Aldean @ Nationals Park
Jul 25, 2014 – Washington, DC
BANDSINTOWN
On Amy’s Facebook page, a photo posted March 31, 2014 looks very much like the woman walking the dog in the Google street image. The Facebook photo is of Amy, Abigail, Katerina, and Gail Savopoulos, with no indication of photo location.
I have one big dog about the same size and temperament as a Chessie. They are strong dogs. I can’t imagine walking more than one at a time.
Treya:
I’m not sure if it was 20/20 segment but I remember hearing that similar buckets were found in Wints parents home or his apartment or his sisters apartment. So there’s that…
Thanks S! That’s really interesting. Not from inside the mansion garage makes it even more damning if they are from Wint’s family/sister’s home.
What? He brought a bucket with him to commit the crime?
yes. that’s what le believes.
As in le detective Clouseau?
That last comment was from me Sleuth
I accidentally sent the comment before I could finish typing the rest of S…Leith. my comment was on 20/20 ( I think) they said that either Wint’s dad or sisters apartment had multiple white plastic containers which law enforcement removed from the home as evidence.
Clue Bird, The Tenleytown Dominos’ manager said it was a request they’d never had before. Almost everyone in DC uses credit cards, even for food deliveries. It’s not a cash town for several reasons. Even people over 40 use credit cards for restaurant food delivery. Very few businesses here are cash only. They tend to be Chinese-owned of which there are very few left in DC.
I don’t believe Nelly is involved in the conspiracy. Sorry if it sounded that way. My point was that there were A LOT of people who AFTER they found out the truth, had many sad “A-ha!” moments. Washington, DC cops don’t give a hoot about undocumented residents. They have far more serious stuff to deal with.
I understand about some of El Salvador’s history because I’ve lived in DC for 12 years. Most of the Latino community here is from El Salvador and Guatemala – NOT Mexico. Our housekeeper is a lovely woman from El Salvador, who like Vera (and many others). is an amazing hard-working woman who sends a lot of money to her family back home. However, our housekeeper became a U.S. citizen last year and has no desire to return on a permanent basis. Instead she is trying to get the rest of her children to join her here in the U.S.
The irony of Vera’s plans is that she had hoped to have a new house back home in a couple of years. She’d fled her home country due to incredible violence. That violence still exists, although it’s coming from different groups now. Yet she still planned to permanently return to El Salvador to be with her kids. Instead she was tragically murdered in the capital of the U.S.
And I wonder about that “vacuum” saleperson. It’s too weird to make up. If this story is true and it was Wint (doubt it though) or one of his partners-in-crime. That’s the lamest cover for casing a place I’ve ever heard. It’s too bad no one’s cctv system captured an image of this person who was going door to mansion door, all over this section of Woodley Park, for a few days prior to the home invasion? Not one of those people thought to call the police?
We get weird solicitors all the time. And I have called the police. I have written down their license plate. We don’t have security cameras but then again we don’t live in a 4.5 million dollar home. We’ve noticed a white box truck parked in from of our home on several days last week, and this week. We believe this same truck to be in our alleyway. We don’t know why. Don’t see the driver ever. I’ve taken photos of the truck and license plate. Our neighborhood is also in NW and extremely safe but we had our first murder in 30 years a couple of months ago – people are outraged that robbers accosted a guy and his friends walking home after a few beers and shot him as he was agreeing to give him his wallet. They still killed him. No street cameras! DC has 150 million to spend on a freakin’ soccer stadium which will create low wage jobs but they don’t have money for street cameras.
I think there are a lot of scammers in DC claiming to be (in our neighborhood anyway) non-profit reps requesting donations. Many of those who ring our door bell want to tell us about Jesus Christ. We also get a lot of guys claiming to sell high end steaks and seafood through an “exclusive” delivery service. And that they have extra stock: are we interested in prime rib or filet mignon? Lobster tails or halibut?
With this quadruple murder case, I just wish someone would have tried to notify authorities before it was too late.
Treya, up thread, I addressed the weird vacuum salesman mystery. It could have been an “Irish Traveller”, gypsies from Murphy City, SC who migrate north, during the spring and summer months. I live in the Midwest, and they have struck here many times. They typically work in groups of 2-3, posing as contractors (blacktop paving, roof repair, power washing, pest control, etc.). They especially like to prey on senior citizens, promising honest work, before collecting money upfront, and never returning to complete anything.
The women are especially brazen, knocking on doors, asking for water, use of a phone, bathroom, and may even use their child as a decoy/destraction. Some will watch your house, and wait until you are working in the yard, before they send someone to a rear/ front entrance to gain entry. I think some have been working in my town this month, for there have been reports already about carpet cleaners and pest control salesmen roaming local neighborhoods offering limited specials on hand written business cards. Hubs showed me one, and I just threw it in the trash, saying I won’t do business with a non-local, non-recognizable company.
My M-I-L wears a medical alert watch and I often wonder why someone couldn’t design a “personal alert” bracelet/watch. One that would dial into a security company to notify LE that you are experiencing an attack/invasion.
Hubs and I had a “near miss” with a home invasion (a young woman & man) tried to gain entry into our home by pretending to run out of gas, and needing to enter our home to make a phone call. Thankfully, hubs & I used our street smarts, gave them gas, and sent them on their way! We knew we were being set up, because of where they parked their vehicle, choosing our home that is on a dead end street, despite signage indicating this, by the main entrance of our neighborhood. Hubs said that they also reeked of pot.
I had just started to pull into our long driveway, when I saw my husband (in his business attire) walking down the sidewalk with a gas can. Instead of parking my car, I just stayed at the edge of the driveway, watching hubs pour the gas into their vehicle before they left. Luckily my car has tinted windows, so they couldn’t get a good look at me for it was dusk.
After that, I took a home invasion class, bought a semi automatic, and obtained my conceal & carry license.
Your bracelet idea is excellent Clue Bird.
Thanks Treya. 🙂
My husband has a client who is in the tech industry (he also has a Ph.D. in bio research) who designs apps. I may “pitch” my idea about developing an app called
“Help me”. (first, I need to check if one already exists) This app would become increasing popular when the Apple watch becomes more common place. My boss has an Apple watch and it is high-tech. The app could have different features: Help for personal assistance during an automobile accident: Help for being a witness to a crime; Help for needing immediate assistance during a break-in/personal attack; Help for poison control; etc.
Clue Bird, I grew up in St Louis, and we also had issues with gypsies–they were so brazen, they would enter the house while people were home, in a back room watching TV and walk out with silverware, jewelry, whatever they could find in 10-15 minutes.
Unfortunately Ginny, gypsies are “equal opportunity offenders!”
I too have heard of their boldness and brazen attempts to get into houses and to solicit money. I had a scheme pulled on me at a grocery store, but I “did get the last word!”
It was a busy afternoon, for I needed to buy some supplies for my daughter’s upcoming graduation party. I first headed to Party City to buy some paperware/decorations/stemware; etc. I had just paid for my purchases, was walking out to my car, when with this bohemian young woman came up to me. She was polite and told me that she just got into town, was hungry, and would I give her $5 to buy a jar of peanut butter (the grocery store was next door). Although I thought her request was rather “odd”, I obliged her and gave her five dollars. She thanked me profusely, even asked me for my address (to mail it back to me) to which, I responded “No, that is not necessary, just pay it forward to someone that you see in need someday.”
Thinking no more about it, I went to my next stop which was a restaurant supply store called “Gordon Foods”, a half mile down the road (but within walking distance of Party City). I was in that store for over an hour, but as I was heading out to the parking lot, a man who appeared to be in his late 20’s, early 30’s approached me. He said “Maam, let me help you with your cart and unloading your groceries.” Noticing, that he wasn’t an employee, I said “Thank you all the same, but I can handle it.” He then walked closer to me, watching me unload my big cart. As I was finishing, getting ready to walk my cart back to the return stall, he hurried right beside me. He then said “Ma’am, do you have a few bucks that I could have for a bus ticket? See, I just got into town and I don’t have enough fare to get me to Cleveland. I only need $5 more!”
I don’t know what possessed me (anger, I think) but I calmly looked him in the eyes and said “You and your girlfriend should be ashamed of yourselves! Making up stories, to get money! If you hurry, you might just find the five dollars you need, or you may just find your girlfriend with a jar of peanut butter!”
Then I stormed off. LOL
That’s hilarious!
Clue Bird,
We know about gypsies because they live here! I have no idea how they afford to live in extremely expensive Dupont Circle but they DO. And they’re very obvious ploys for money are pathetic.
Where I attended college we had gypsies too. From Eastern Europe. They would do the most pitiful things. Use their own children to try to gain sympathy and of course money.
There’s also a HUGE gypsy community way out in Virginia (near the NC border) and also an even larger community in WV.
I don’t know of travelling gypsies here in DC. Not really sure where they could afford to live unless they shack up with gypsy relatives who live in DC permanently? Closest campgrounds are a good hour away, and parking is tricky and expensive in DC.
You could be right and it was gypsies but still cannot understand why not one person in that exclusive enclave did not call police? I’ve called the police for strange goings-on in our neighborhood and as I mentioned before the most expensive homes are in the 600K range. There may be a few that have sold for 1 million but that’s not a big deal here.
You’re smart to take home invasion protection classes. I’ve been kind of terrified ever since this crime happened a few hours’ drive from DC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Richmond_spree_murders
One of the saddest stories I’d ever heard.
And then there’s the home invasion extortion rape-murder case in Cheshire, CT (where the police are to blame for that very sad outcome imo).
Good Morning America This A.M. Reported : Dah-ron Wint Claimed He Was Framed ! His new Lawyer also reported he only had a minor roll in the crime.
Minor actually means Major where i’m sitting !!!
Thanks Aileen. He’s a pos. So no surprise he’s going to throw as much sh*t as possible and hope some sticks. What a coward.
Per Daron Wint’s new lawyer Sean Hanover “{Wint} believes that once people begin to understand who else was out there and what was going on, they’re going to see him in a very different light,” Hanover said. “I think it’s fair to say that he feels at this time that he was definitely set up.”
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/06/man-charged-in-d-c-mansion-slayings-due-in-court-has-new-attorney-114804.html
VIDEO – http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/families-grieve-lost-tragic-berkeley-balcony-accident-31823284
Acutally, Hanover’s claim fits right in with my thinking and earlier posts. Wallace was definitely the brains behind this. He had a motive: Money/ revenge. He had the opportunity : had a job with the family and had access. He had a muscle man: Daron Wint. Wallace is the brains behind this. Mark my words.. and by the sound of it, according to Hanover, Wint is practicing scales and is getting ready to sing!
Sleuth you may be 100% correct but why only $40K? And why murder for $40K. I realize people are murdered for much less but the amount of planning involved and the small amount “gained” doesn’t make any sense. And the amount itself is weird. Even the FBI guy who offered his insights on 20/20 about this crime said the $40K “ransom” is odd and sticks out. And why did they live for 2+ hours after the drop-off? Why kill them? Or why did they murder Philip? He would not have known Wint and Wint’s accomplices? If Jordan was involved he could have remained on the first floor to disengage the alarm, let the dogs out, let Wint and possible accomplices inside – but his presence would not have to be known to the victims because they were all on the second floor. Why were they murdered for a lousy 40 grand? Nothing makes sense.
Wint is exactly the kind of defendant who would have no problem claiming others were responsible. Wint himself has lied and used his own brother’s name in a prior arrest so his credibility is pretty worthless. Wint’s history of revenge and violence against those he imagines wronged him is a matter of record – one doesn’t even have to create fantasies about other suspects.
Time may tell if anyone else was involved but there is no reason why Wint couldn’t have done this all by himself.
Law enforcement has already corroborated they KNOW Daron Wint had help. And, thus far, they are rejecting the unsealing all of the affidavits.
Jana, I truly think you are an educated person who is presenting a side to this case with an obvious flair for the interrogatory defense side.
Yet, I fail to comprehend why your opinion steadfastly contradicts the forensic investigating by several agencies, FBI, Marshalls, Maryland State Police, D.C. Attorney General’s office, etc.
I say this only because authorities had already arrested and subsequently released certain unnamed co-conspiritors who helped Daron Wint launder money, as well as, drive get-away vehicles.
I fully recognize you need hard forensic proof and an irrefutable timeline, BUT ‘circumstantial evidence’ has won capital crime cases with no murder weapon and even without a body!
In this case, they have the decedents and murder weapons, like the bloodied baseball bat and found knives in the Chevy Cruze. How can you think no one knew anything about what transpired except for Damon Wint when he would have had no idea what he was up against in a home invasion without insider help.
To my mind, you are either a great devil’s advocate… or, fighting for the defense side strategy… but, losing mercilessly on this blog to the majority of posters with reams of documentation…. BUT, you do so possessing a clever wit and obvious grace! I really do admire your empirical mind, Jana… however, I must once more, simply agree to disagree based upon the preponderance of evidence and logical discourse.
“He [Wint] feels at this time that he was definitely set up.”
So what will he “feel” during other times? His defense attorney’s comment does not make any sense. Hanover is using extremely vague language to assert something which his client is asking us to believe as fact?
I believe they searched for white buckets at his dad’s house.
IF Jordan knew Darrell from the complex, it would mean he would also likely know Daron. And I’m sure Daron would have something to say when he found out that Jordan had become the driver to the CEO whose company fired Daron. All those pics Jordan posted on FB of SS’s glam life. Jordan having insider access. It might give a thug some ideas and cause him to contact his brother’s old friend from the complex.
(Or vice versa, Jordan hatched the plan to get random money and contacted the most evil acquaintance he could think of to hold the family. Daron would certainly be a good choice for that, especially since Jordan would remember that Daron held a grudge against AIW.)
Ransom money, not random money. Tho you could argue that $40k is pretty random.
Agree with you KM. There’s a connection here between the Wint bros and Wallace. Their addresses being so close to one another over a period of several years is not a coincidence that LE is going to gloss over. It’s important. And his sister lives there now, just a 5 or 10 minute walk from where the Porsche was set on fire.
I wonder when the planning started? Was it from the very beginning? When Wallace asked SS if he knew of any employment opportunities? Was it a couple of weeks later? He only worked for SS for something like 6 weeks. Which brings me to the remaining 40K – where is it? If Jordan has it where would he hide it?
SS had no idea what kind of evil he was inviting into his world.
But the one of many troubling things about Daron Wint is that he should have been incarcerated for the attempted murder on the man in upstate NY and then deported to Guyana. But he got a slap on the wrist and was sadly never deported. And this kind of “punishment” for his many violent acts happened again and again. I really don’t comprehend how judges allow a violent psychopath like Daron Wint to fly under the radar?
Yup ! I believe Dah-Ron & Darrell W. both were involved as was Jordan W.It probably all happened when they were smokin a doobie or whatever.They started talking,J.W. told the brothers who he worked for and that’s all it took for the plan to go into motion.
I also heard that the Mother, Sister & Brother hired the Atty. Does anyone know the brothers name
who was involved in the hiring of the Atty.?
I FEEL SO SORRY for the Savopoulas Family! There Lives have just changed FOREVER !
The ……. that did this are SCUM OF THIS EARTH !!!
I want to say his other brother is named something like Steffan. Some people feel very strongly that the close proximity of apartments is not compelling at all. I don’t understand that. What are the chances that your boss gets murdered and the murderer turns out to have lived less than a football field away from your family, in way different part of town, regardless of whether you lived there part-time or full-time. I recently got back from having to relocate for work for a year. While away, my family did live in a big sprawling complex with two pools and multiple cul-de-sacs. The people were not over-the-top social by any means, but there is enough chatter that you become aware of people. Daron Wint seems like the kind of guy who would call attention to himself and disrupt the neighborhood. You might not want to be his “friend,” but I think you’d certainly know of him if he lived 348 feet from you. Especially if your dad is a cop.
I agree 100% with your logic km! Neighbors know who the trouble makers are! Especially when seeing the cops at their house or hearing about “things” from other neighbors.
A popular past time in my city/state is sitting out the back yard around a fire pit.
Portable chimenieas; fire pit bowls; galvanized tubs/troughs are some creative ways people living in apartments/condos can enjoy relaxing around a fire, drinking beer & wine [or smoking weed].
Treya posted an interesting “find” of Darrell’s arrest two years ago for possession and distribution of marijuana. Another INSIGHT from that police report is the ages of Darrell and Jordan. They are both 27-28 years old, so you can bet your bottom dollar that Darrell & Jordan knew each other!!! Heck, I knew all the kids within a 20 mile radius in my old neighborhood/hometown! I went to a very large HS, graduated with over 600 people, and knew most of them. Granted, I grew up in an era where people seldom moved away from the towns they were born/raised in, so I am curious (from younger posters) to how many people they know from their HS class?
First, I was of the belief the reflective vests were of the green “variety” used at race tracks, such as used by JW and SS and Phillip, not the orange variety usually preferred by construction/road crews or often landscapers. Now the latest threads all say they were orange. Which is it? I would seem to make a big difference.
Second, I have a theory about JW’s possible motivation for organizing the whole affair — purely a theory, mind you, but it helps to put some context on the whole matter.
What if JW asked SS for a loan to support his racing aspirations, specifically either the race in Italy or the one in California (or both), and SS turned him down. Given the obviously manifest displays of wealth SS exhibited — not being critical at all, just reflecting on what we all have seen and what JW experienced firsthand — JW might have been willing to accept SS’s wealth and not necessarily resented him for that. But if JW asked SS for what JW perceived to be a relatively inconsequential sum, given SS’s assets, and SS refused him, that could have what “flipped” JW from merely an envious assistant to a scheming potential criminal. And if JW had heard that SS was planning on taking $40K to an auction, he might have seen his best opportunity.
We know JW had other possible motives for hostility towards SS — being replaced as the boy’s racing coach — but I’m looking for something more substantial after SS hires JW as his assistant and driver. SS being unwilling to fund JW’s dreams when JW requests a relatively small loan from SS would strike me as something that might trigger really malevolent thoughts in JW’s mind — and possible spur him into action.
Totally speculative on my part, to be sure.
I think that is very possible. People embezzle and steal from their employers allllll the time. JW could probably even justify it in his mind. Yes, it’s illegal, but he would think it was only fair. And it wouldn’t hurt the family. They could easily get by missing $40k. Then he could do his races and continue his job because he was just the unknowing driver in a ransom situation. In fact, he would even play the part of hero by delivering the money pronto that saved the family.
Perhaps if SS caught on that JW was part of the scheme, then JW would go into survival mode and say the family had to go. But, for some reason, when it comes to thinking that JW could actually be involved in the directly attacking the victims (I can’t even write the specific words) I just can’t let me mind go there. And I think if he were involved on that level, then he would probably be arrested (although probably a lot harder to prove anything with his dna since he was employed by the family and his dna would be all over the place by virtue of his position.)
Lurker & Sleuth, I read somewhere (in the NY Times Society page) (I posted the link on Nate’s other thread), that Savvas and Amy were considering moving to Puerto Rico “sometime soon”, where Savvas ran a hedge fund business.
After doing a little digging, I found out that Puerto Rico, is the new “tax haven” in the Caribbean. 0% tax rate on certain dividends, interest, & capital gains. “Act 20” entices hedge funds; family offices; professional services firms and software developers to locate there, by taxing their corporate profits from exported services at a FLAT 4% rate and allowing those profits to be paid out to the owners FREE of Puerto Rico income tax.
With this information in mind, perhaps Savvas was talking business on the phone while Wallace was driving, and Wallace realizes that he better strike while the iron is hot. Wallace, no doubt was hurting for money, as was Wint (since he was living with his sister) so they hatched a plan to extort some money. Wallace may have felt that his “role” of being the informant/handler of the dogs/deliverer of the money would be easy while the “rough stuff” could be handled by Wint and his thugs.
Another “possibility” albeit, unfathomable to me, is that Savvas might have been involved with some unsavory characters/business practices. One only has to watch a few episodes of “American Greed” to realize that white collar crime is on the upswing. Perhaps a revelation like “this” is what Wint’s CURRENT legal representation is alluding too???
Without divulging too much information, my husband’s firm has seen several cases of embezzlement; arson; and money laundering from citizens who were once considered the “pillars of the community”.
It is also a widely accepted fact that “the first generation builds the business; the second generation makes it a success and the third generation wrecks it.” I believe that this formula reflects Savvas’ work ethic and that he was EVERYTHING that people said about him: Smart; innovative; savvy; kind; & forward thinking!!!!
Thanks, CB.
Yes, to figure out JW’s mindset and to try to get past a simple vendetta against SS and the boy for replacing JW as the driving coach, those options would be among the possible ones that spring to mind:
a) JW learns SS and family relocating to PR and JW’s career opportunities are about to take a further hit (third in 4-5 months);
b) JW’s desire to race in Italy or California require getting hands on big funds immediately.
c) JW learns that this indiscretions in posting social media pictures and comments regarding Savopolous family assets may get him fired.
I’m sure there are many others that don’t totally or unreasonably stretch credulity.
Again, one would like to think people are better than committing murder of innocents and children for their gains, but humans are also readily capable of ignoring the real risks of reckless behavior especially if they believe riches are close at hand. And even well reasoned and worked plans can spin out of control quickly with human beings involved (on both sides of the equation) and unforeseen factors springing up.
Clue Bird, km, Treya, Spanish et al:
Guess what? After watching Wint’s new attorney on GMA, my gut tells me somethings about to blow! Wint realizes that he is gonna go down for the kidnapping, torture, extortion and murder of four people! And his attorney is probably reading this blog as well as others and is telling Wint : “Look, a vast majority of the people are convinced that Jordan Wallace is involved and perhaps the mastermind. Why are you protecting him? ”
And guess what? Wint realizes Wallace is gonna let him take the fall.. so my guess is.. he is gonna start cooperating, making a plea deal with the cops. At the very least to negotiate for his life ( life without possibility of parole). Wallace is fine with letting Wint take all the blame, but my instinct tells me Wint is getting ready to spill the beans. But that may mean turning on his own family as well as Wallace. But it’s Wallace I really wanna see go down. He is a sociopath.
Clue Bird, km, Treya, Spanish et al:
Guess what? After watching Wint’s new attorney on GMA, my gut tells me somethings about to blow! Wint realizes that he is gonna go down for the kidnapping, torture, extortion and murder of four people! And his attorney is probably reading this blog as well as others and is telling Wint : “Look, a vast majority of the people are convinced that Jordan Wallace is involved and perhaps the mastermind. Why are you protecting him? ”
Sleuth, You may be very right. I would not be surprised if criminal lawyers as well as prosecutors have staff reviewing blogs, online comment sections etc…..to get a feel for public thoughts and opinions on high level cases and the actors involved.
I think Wint’s new lawyers are going to use the Jose Baez method of creating chaos and confusion in the mind’s of the jurors. Hopefully it will not work this go round.
Sleuth,
Sounds good to me. But I don’t think Wint would have hesitated giving up Wallace if he had anything to gain by it. So why now? Getting ready for a plea? The defense attorney starting to throw out some of the stuff he will allude to later at trial: Columbian cartels, the housekeeper, the assistant, girls and guys in the convoy, the victims brought it on themselves, i.e. all he usual “real killers” out there?
I am hoping Wint is ready to give up Wallace.
I am wondering where investigators are right now in putting together the whole shebang, what their strategy was and is in releasing some info., then nada.
I agree that of the two, Wallace is scarier. Because a Wallace could get to anyone. Wallace, if guilty, is the creepier profile. We know to stay away from a Wint, but the Wallaces wheedle in everywhere and their special sickness is not obvious.
Not sure about the color of the ‘racing’ vests found in the garage. Those used in the neighborhood by contractors and landscapers (from what I’ve observed just driving through the Woodland Normanstone enclave of Woodley Park) are almost always neon yellow with silver reflective stripes. Nearly all workers in the neighborhood wear them which made me wonder if it’s a regulation within that special section. But we’ve also seen workers donning orange with silver reflective stripes, and green with silver.
Some Washington, DC government employees also wear these types of vests too. I believe usually orange and silver.
Your theory about JW asking SS to be his patron, or give him a loan so that he can compete in the race in Italy has been discussed here before as a possible motive.
While your theory makes sense, murdering people for $40K doesn’t. The crime doesn’t fit the take. Although Clue Bird brought up a great point that perhaps Savvas had offered the perpetrators the Mosler and other cars? And this is why Wallace had expired paperwork to the Mosler? It may be that Wallace and others just grabbed a file of personal paperwork of Savvas’ and Amy’s, and for whatever reason the expired document was in 1 of the 2 backpacks LE discovered in JW’s car. I also wonder about 2 backpacks? Why does a guy who is not travelling need 2 backpacks?
And I really wonder if Savvas would have known Daron Wint by sight? And wouldn’t those involved have worn disguises? If they did not wear disguises then doesn’t that mean the criminals always had murder in mind?
The horrific senseless tortures and eventual murders of all victims are reported to have taken place on the second floor in two separate bedrooms. The 3 adults in one, and Philip in the other. And it’s also been reported that while the two women’s wrists were bound (with duct tape I believe), Savvas’ hands were not.
This leads me to believe that there had to be two perpetrators inside the mansion at all times. I think Savvas could have defended himself and the others from Wint. But two perps would be difficult, especially if they both had knives and/or knife and bat.
Sickening what cowards these people are – all of them. Those who took delight in the physical and mental torture of those defenseless victims, and their murderer(s), and those who conspired behind the scenes – all equally culpable imo.
Anyway, yes your theory makes perfect sense. I guess if Daron Wint, or his brother Darrell have the burner phones then they can prove Daron’s allegations about how it all went down. But if the party they claim framed Daron has the burner phones then I really don’t know (unless that person’s dna is found at the crime scene) how they’ll prove anything they’re claiming. I know that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, but I don’t think any jury is going to believe much of anything Wint’s defense team throws at them, and they will require solid proof from the defense.
While you may not think four murders for $40K “makes sense” — and I am sure 99.99% of the population would agree with you — it is, by everything we know currently, what the final “deal” amounted to. There may be reasons why it ended up that way when the perpetrators may have hoped for more:
— the (as of yet unsubstantiated) claims that bank wires for more money did not go through (question: Are these kidnappers smart enough to wire funds to accounts that cannot be traced?)
— SS may have tried to stall for time suggesting that he could only get $40K at the time but if they would be patient or let his wife and child go he would work with them to get more; the killers may have simply lost patience and snapped and thus killed the boy and/or his mother and eventually SS.
— This is a crime of simple opportunity, ie., JW knowing there is $40K in cash sitting in an AIG safe waiting for SS to collect to take to the auction. JW thought it would be a quick and simple plan with no complications.
— Other possibilities???
At this time, we don’t know what the full motive and ransom amount expected/requested originally was. But suffice to say, despite your feelings, people have been killed for less — a lot less.
*IF* DW had a drug debt or otherwise owed some REALLY bad dudes $40K — or even $10 K — and had no where else to get the money, and knew his own life was in jeopardy if he didn’t find it soon, you can bet he would probably be willing to kidnap four people for the money — and possibly even kill them to make sure there were no witnesses. As I said, possible JW motive is a bit harder to figure out, but he may have concocted a plan that did not envision anyone getting killed and things got out of his control. All that remains to be seen…
Sorry, meant “AIW” safe obviously!
Lurker, I agree with you and said I realize criminals have murdered for much less than 40K. Yes, drugs and I would add, mental illness. can be important factors in why they were tortured and murdered.
I do not believe that it was necessary to torture Philip in order to get SS to give them everything and anything that they asked for. I think both he and Amy would have done anything for their children’s safety and security.
I’m still confused about where the “ransom” money came from. We know Wallace lied about how he obtained the money and how he dropped it off and at what time SS allegedly made the strange request.
So if Wallace didn’t go to BOA with the accountant, is Wallace’s story that he got the money from the accountant at the AIW’s offices? Was Savvas’ sister aware of the money being given to Wallace?
There’s a huge safe in the garage of the Savapoulos mansion. There was an article that forensics experts were examining it for possible clues.
Regarding the wire transfers. When we heard it we immediately thought they were trying to have the money wired to a foreign account. We had no idea at the time that Wint was from Guyana. I think with some countries it’s quite easy and even when traceable impossible for law enforcement to recoup stolen funds on behalf of the victims.
Regarding the supposed failed wire transfers, I had tried to keep up with about 2/3 to 3/4 of this and other threads on this site but won’t pretend to have read all posts on this story. Despite numerous references to the supposed failed bank wires, I don’t recall seeing yet any direct links to reputable media stories that mention this issue or to any official police or judicial documents that reference this. Doesn’t mean this isn’t a fact and/or I may have missed a link along the way. If you’ve got something at hand, please refer me.
I’m not convinced Daron Wint has the wherewithal to arrange a foreign bank wire to a secret account in Guyana, but depending on how deep the list of conspirators goes, I suppose it is possible. I would hope that AIW financial management practices would require several approvals before sending $40K abroad — especially to a country were they likely have no business interest. I’d like to think even if the boss says :Hurry, it’s an emergency” there would be due diligence to see what was up. But in a family owned company that may not always be the case.
Yes, if more dedicated observers of this story can answer “Where exactly did the money come from and who handled it before JW” that would help eliminate some of the uncertainty or possibilities. But since JW apparently gave differing accounts, perhaps we won’t know until the police or prosecutors decide to tell us.
Savvas Savopoulos owned a relatively new company located in San Juan, Puerto Rico called Sigma Investment Strategies.
SS had discussed planning to move his family and leave D.C.
The man had millions in disposable income and even had ties to Eagle County ranch in Aspen, CO among other investors.
Evidently, his talent with making money and conspicuous consumption in the eyes of particular workers made him into a target for home invasion, robbery, conspiracy and murder.
May those responsible for these vile actions burn in the fiery embers of hell for eternity! What they have done must stay in the forefront of the public’s eye to ensure appropriate punishments are meted out to each and every one of those involved!
It is past time to re-arrest those who were captured at the scene of the takedown of Daron Wint by Marshalls…. what reason do these accomplice cohorts have to walk freely on the same streets as the rest of us?!?! I say, NONE!!!!!
June 16, 2015
***Quadruple homicide suspect in D.C. retains immigration specialist***
…………………………………A preliminary hearing for Mr. Wint was moved to July 2.
Mr. Hanover said he wasn’t able to speak about the details of the case as he had just been appointed but did say his client felt “encouraged about the case.”
“He feels good that justice will be served in the matter,” Mr. Hanover said.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/16/wint-retains-immigration-specialist-dc-homicides/#ixzz3dLM8ODbH
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
The notion that an immigration lawyer needs to be present throughout a trial as the new attorney mentioned on TV is ridiculous. I realize immigration law seems to be his comfort zone but seriously this is a murder trial and the immigration issue is probably irrelevant to Wint at this point.
Has anyone ever come across this story about American Iron Works?
May 24, 2015 5:54 PM
Savapoulos was the owner of American Iron Works which was under investigation for underpaying its Guyanese workers including Daron Wint who was an ex-employee.
——————————————–
Nearly three dozen construction workers — mostly Guyanese immigrants — got back pay Monday totaling close to $1 million after a city probe found they’d been ripped off by their employer.
The checks for the North American Iron Works employees — who worked on city schools and the Queens Museum from 2010 to 2012 — ranged from $382 to $73,801, according to city Controller Scott Stringer’s office.
The workers were supposed to be paid a “prevailing wage” rate of around $40 an hour that is required by law for people hired for city projects.
Instead, they were paid about $16 an hour, Stringer said.
His office, which enforces the prevailing wage law, was tipped off when one worker complained about being underpaid.
In addition to having to fork over $871,852 in benefits and back pay for 33 workers, the iron company will also have to pay $52,311 in interest and a $46,208 penalty. “We are sending a message to unscrupulous contractors: we will take action against those who cheat their workers,” said Stringer.
Last edited by Sunil May 24, 2015 6:01 PM
http://guyana.hoop.la/topic/possible-motive-for-daron-wint-killing-of-savapoulos?reply=447440695162153871#447440695162153871
Oh forget it. This blogger is talking about a completely different company but added info about SS and Wint. The company that was find and made to pay back pay was NORTH American Iron Works, not AIW. Totally different company. Sorry.
Treya, for all we know, North American Iron Works, could be a subsidiary of American Iron Works?!? If you read the article below, there seems to be a political “connection”, and the Savopoulos’ did mingle with the local/national policy makers.
All I was able to find out about the company was the VICE PRESIDENT’s name ~Bobby Abdul Satar, and that the company was “Established on 5-24-2001.”
http://observer.com/2015/05/stringer-wrings-1-million-from-city-contractor-for-underpaid-immigrant-workers/
The following link names the law firm involved and who to call, if workers think that their rights have been violated.
http://www.fslawfirm.com/blog/2015/05/comptroller-stringer-awards-nearly-1-million-to-immigrant-workers-for-prevailing-wages/
I for one think that the “Guyana & Steel Industry” similarities are too coincidental, not to explore further….. (using Inductive reasoning)
North American Iron Works could be a subsidiary of AIW, but it was my understanding that Wint had not worked for AIW in over 10 years, which would be prior to 2005.
But it is possible that Wint heard about this judgement from other Guyanan steel workers and felt cheated out of a judgement.
Ginny, I read somewhere where one of Wint’s relatives was recently fired from AIW. I posted the source on Nate’s other thread. I will try to find it.
Anyway, given the facts as we know them, American Iron Works and American Institute of Welding are both businesses that Savvas was a PART of. To me, “North American Iron Works” could be a subsidiary of AIW.
Think about it….you have expatriates from Guayana, living in New York, who are involved in million dollar STEEL projects by a “sub contractor” who were paid 58% the going wage ($16 vs $40) from 2010-2012. A whistle blower calls the city controller, then an investigation takes place. The workers (36 of them) WEREN’T awarded their money until 5/18/15!
The murders took place 4 days prior and Wint went to NYC around that time. Perhaps, Wint was trying to get them “compensated” BEFORE Savvas and his family moved to Puerto Rico?
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Daron-Wint-Suspect-in-Woodley-Park-Quadruple-Slaying-in-Custody-304665291.html
Is the link where I found these words: “One of Wint’s relatives was also fired from the company.”
The link ^^^ about Daron’s (Da-Ron) relative being fired can be seen in the 31st paragraph, under the caption: “Who is Daron Dylan Wint”
Maybe Wint was too stupid to know they were 2 separate companies.
That could be very true Jana. I’ve not found any evidence that the two companies are even remotely connected.
JW must be defacating in his pants now that DW’s attorney has indicated that his client is being set up. Man, that guy (JW) must stink really badly now
http://usa.greekreporter.com/2015/05/25/savvas-savopoulos-from-greece-to-d-c/
^^^ Above is an interesting article about Savvas’ and his family’s Greek history^^^
Another “tidbit” that I picked up on is that Savvas & Amy started “The American Insitute of Welding” A place where young people could get certified in the welding trade. Perhaps, it was a “labor pipeline” training and placing workers into Savvas’ steel projects.
I think you will likely appreciate that that school is adjacent to the dojo that was supposed to be opening within 2 days! No one from that school has corroborated that JW was at the dojo on Thurs. Thio apparently he did contact an administrator to let that person know that AS told him to go work in the dojo that day. Can you say alibi?
I still find it hard to believe JW could possibly be complicit in this horrible crime- he seemed to be happy with his new job – does not have a criminal background- had racing aspirations and most savvy millenials go to Gofundme to fund their aspirations. and that statement by DW attorney is quite ‘lame’ – wint has a violent criminal background – was jobless- unemployable and probably has drug issues and mental illness. set up – dna on pizza, blood on shoes- caught with some of the ransom money- lots of explaining to do. chime in y’all.
There is a fascinating book I read called The Sociopath Next Door. JW is a monster (I believe) because he not only masterminded a monstrous crime, but seems completely willing to allow everyone else to take the blame. My gut tells me that by July 1st 2015 Jordan Wallace will be charged with Murder in the first degree, kidnapping, money laundering, extortion and perjury. Among other things
Sleuth wrote: There is a fascinating book I read called The Sociopath Next Door
Agree. It’s an excellent book. Important to read to protect yourself from dangerous narcissists and sociopaths/psychopaths. And helps in “understanding” a criminal mind.
Vibrant: neither Scott Peterson or Jodi Arias had prior. Riminal histories either
Vibrant, I too believe that Wallace was involved at some level (probably only an informant), but NEVER thought it would go as far as it did! I also believe that Wint could have been 1 of the 36 Steel Workers in NYC, who got his wages “clipped” by unscrupulous business practices, exploiting expats in “sanctuary” cities.
Perhaps once the $40,000 got into the hands of Wint (and his fellow disgruntled co-workers), they became enraged and went on a slice-dice rampage. Remember these NYC steel workers were OWED Millions, not thousands in underpaid wages/benefits, etc. and iron work is a very grueling, risky, occupation.
My guess is that once Wallace saw the rage (perhaps brutality that was going down), he fled, trying to put some “distance” between himself and the situation back at