BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE -- SAVOPOULOS/FIGUEROA MURDERS, D.C.

[HairOfTheDog]

Wint's attorney has had me rolling my eyes a couple of times as well Duchess.


Attorney Robin Ficker ^ has said in regards to Wint: "My impression of him — I remember him rather well — is that he wouldn't hurt a fly. He's a very nice person."

Ficker also added that (in the six times he's represented Wint over the years) he found Wint to be "kind and gentle", that authorities have arrested the wrong guy and that police have made a big mistake here.

Wint's presumed innocent until proven guilty in the legal system, but I was surprised to hear the attorney making such bold claims that his client -- one with a violent history whose DNA was found at the scene -- is unquestionably innocent, right off the bat.

I figured Ficker was some unknown trying to make a name for himself; a Jose Baez type. But, when I looked him up, I was surprised to see that he is actually well-established and has some pretty significant victories in his portfolio. And, he was a (in)famous NBA opposing-team heckler as well.

Strange character. In addition to his claims that Wint is innocent because his family says that he doesn't like pizza, Ficker is now saying that Wint can't be the dude who did it because Wint's mother and siblings don't think he murdered the Savopoulos' and Figueroa.

I don't think Ficker is likely so gullible and ignorant as to think that the rationale he's given to date is indicative of his client's innocence; he's probably just trying to plant doubt in the potential jurors minds straight off.

Wint's father, who had to have a restraining order against Wint for a year in order to protect himself and his family from Wint's violent threats against them, is not declaring his son innocent. Yesterday, Dennis Wint expressed sorrow for the victims' families and said that it's his hope that anyone involved in the crimes, including his son, will suffer the consequences. Statement: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crim...story.html

[Duchess]

Not that I don't give thought to all the poor souls murdered but I think about Philip so much. He was just a little boy, probably a kid who has never known anything but love in his short life.

[HairOfTheDog]

The Money Trail...

New information from the investigation in the quadruple murder in a wealthy Washington, D.C., neighborhood reveals the suspects were converting large amounts of cash into money orders, trying to hide the extortion money dropped on the Savopoulos doorstep.

When Daron Wint was arrested last Thursday night, police found evidence that at least two of the five people with him were helping him move or spend part of the cash extorted from Savvas Savopoulos.

Five men and women who were taken into custody and later released were using money orders police say were visible inside the truck Wint was following. They say those money orders were paid for with $100 bills, "consistent with the denomination...delivered to the...residence prior to the homicide."

According to court documents, one of the occupants in the car with Wint "admitted to purchasing money orders after the murders" estimated "to exceed $10,000." Another person in the truck admitted he was "providing cash" to buy the money orders.

Roscoe Howard, former U.S. attorney for D.C., said that although the five were released, they remain under investigation. (HOTD: initial reports indicated 2 men in the white box truck including Wint's brother and two women in the car with Win -- I don't know if the fifth person was in the caravan or somewhere else when arrested.)

"They can be watched the way you or I can be watched. Once you're on the street there is nothing to keep the police from listening to your phone calls, with of course permission, a wiretap, following you, doing whatever they can do to any individual who's out on the street," Howard said.

At the time of their release, none of the five was suspected of helping or being present at the crime scene.

Ref: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-d...formation/
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I wonder what LE's strategy is here and what Wint's companions told LE about where they thought all that money came from.

[Cutz]

I still wonder whether this guy had accomplices in the house. I don't so much care about people helping him launder the money as much as I want the violent criminals to be brought to justice. The charges were brought by the DC gov't, right? I think they outlawed the death penalty? Any chance they could kick the trial over into Virginia?

[Blindgreed1]

I still wonder whether this guy had accomplices in the house. I don't so much care about people helping him launder the money as much as I want the violent criminals to be brought to justice. The charges were brought by the DC gov't, right? I think they outlawed the death penalty? Any chance they could kick the trial over into Virginia?

Nobody is kicking anyone in the Virginia Cutz.

[HairOfTheDog]

The charges were brought by the DC gov't, right? I think they outlawed the death penalty? Any chance they could kick the trial over into Virginia?

Yeah, he was apprehended by US Marshals in Maryland, and charged in DC, where the murders took place. You're correct that there is no death penalty in DC.

Right now, to the best of my knowledge, Wint is charged with felony first degree murder while armed. I don't think he's been charged with kidnapping, grand theft auto, arson, extortion or any of the other crimes suspected to have been committed at the Savopoulos home.

I think Wint will be facing a whole lot more charges as the investigation progresses, unless investigators confirm that there were accomplices involved who carried out the other crimes.

Here are the highlights of the previous crimes charged against Daron Wint, the nice guy who wouldn't hurt a fly (according to his hecklin' defense attorney). Wint's Criminal History: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/20.../27774899/

[HairOfTheDog]

CNN is reporting that according to the police documents they have seen the PA changed his story regarding several things and he did so more than once.

LE must be all over this guy like white on rice.

^ Jordan Wallace, Mr. Savopolous' Personal Assistant (identified as W-1 in the charging doc posted upthread)

By the sounds of this report released today, Wallace is highly suspicious. But, that's just the reporter's take and the opinion of a former LE official not affiliated with the case.

Wallace lied to police about how he got the $40k. He lied about how he dropped it off. He lied and said he didn't even know he was dropping off cash inside the envelope, but had actually sent a photo of the cash to his girlfriend that morning.

Wallace isn't talking to media. He shut down all his social media accounts after the murders. He hasn't spoken to the Savopoulos family members. His mom hasn't been to work at the church in over a week...

He could just be a stupid immature braggart who's now scared shitless. But, he certainly coulda lied for much more incriminating reasons. Curious.

Story: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29173374/sa...-assistant

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm hoping for an LE update soon. Only Wint has been charged so far.

Today was the funeral for the Savopoulos family.



The teenaged daughters who were fortunately away at boarding school are in the left corner of the picture above.

It still kinda blows me away how much of this crime was committed in such a highly secure neighborhood, in daylight, with a lot of communication between one of the captives and people on the outside.

[Duchess]

One daughter is carrying a Chanel bag & the other has a LV. I know this irrelevant, I just notice stuff like that.

[Jimbone]

But who's the pink guy just behind them.

Not sure how I'd react, but they seem quite composed for two girls burying their entire family in one fell swoop. Maybe they are on sedatives or all cried out.

That guy behind them is creeping me out though.

[HairOfTheDog]

But who's the pink guy just behind them.
That guy behind them is creeping me out though.

I didn't even notice him; he does look scary.

He's one of the family members who seems to have a sun-burned face and a shadow across his face in that shot.

Here are a couple more.





The girls look very collected; I noticed that too. I've been a crying mess when family members died. But, I never took meds or anything -- you may be right that they're on anti-depressants. Or maybe they're just extremely composed people.

[Jimbone]

Poor guy... i know how the pale skin vs. sun is never good.

i think the girls might have been boarding school kids, so many they're a little detached because of that. Then again, wtf do I know... I've thankfully not had my family wiped out in one day by a piece of human garbage.

[Duchess]

I'm looking at those men in suits & thinking about how friggin' hot/humid it's been around here. They don't even look like they are sweltering.

[blueberryhill]

But who's the pink guy just behind them.

Not sure how I'd react, but they seem quite composed for two girls burying their entire family in one fell swoop. Maybe they are on sedatives or all cried out.

That guy behind them is creeping me out though.

Mr. Bone, I thought the two daughters were overly composed, but then I am the one who says never judge others until you have walked in their shoes.
So, guess I am being judgmental, here, but it just seems they should be more upset......I would guess maybe they are taking sedatives....

[HairOfTheDog]

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23^rd

I hope it's not sealed and doesn't get waived.

A preliminary hearing is typically held not long after arraignment and is best described as a "trial before the trial" at which the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial.

At Wint's arraignment back on May 22^nd, his assigned defense attorney Natalie Lawson said the government's case was "based on speculation and guesswork."

Prosecutor Emily Miller replied: "Simply put, the defendant's DNA was on pizza left in a room with three dead adults."

It's gonna be very hard for his defense attorney to get around that DNA match.


^ Daron Wint booking photo from 2007

Grandstanding defense attorney Ficker, who represented Wint in 2007 and several other times, has met with Wint recently and continues to make public statements about how nice Wint is and how LE has the wrong guy, but I don't believe Ficker has been officially retained to represent Wint this time.

[Duchess]

Grandstanding defense attorney Ficker

Anderson interviewed him, I think it was last night, Ficker made a fool of himself. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say his statements were outrageous. One that I recall was his insistence that Wint couldn't have killed the boy because he comes from such a large family and helped to raise his brothers/sisters. Ficker is a ding dong.

[blueberryhill]

Grandstanding defense attorney Ficker

Anderson interviewed him, I think it was last night, Ficker made a fool of himself. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say his statements were outrageous. One that I recall was his insistence that Wint couldn't have killed the boy because he comes from such a large family and helped to raise his brothers/sisters. Ficker is a ding dong.

Also, Ficker is a Fucker!

[HairOfTheDog]

New Evidence Links Suspect to Crime Scene

Investigators say they have a new clue linking suspect Darron Dellon Dennis Wint to one of the victims: blood found on a shoe he was wearing when authorities arrested him.

Forensic analysis matched traces of blood on Wint's shoe to at least one of the murder victims, two law enforcement officials said. The officials would not specify which victim's blood was allegedly found on Wint's shoe.

Investigators said last month they don't believe Wint acted alone. But so far, no one else has been charged in connection to the killings.

The victims were bound with duct tape, and they suffered from blunt-force trauma, according to a source familiar with the investigation. And there were signs that 10-year-old Philip Savopoulos had been stabbed and tortured, according to the source.

The public defender representing Wint has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

Attorney Robin Ficker, a lawyer who has represented Wint in the past, has said he believes authorities have "the wrong guy."

"I know him to be a kind, gentle, nonaggressive person; (he is) someone you wouldn't mind your grandmother going to lunch with," the Maryland lawyer said last month after Wint's arrest. "... It's a rush to judgment. There's a presumption of innocence, which is not being mentioned by police."

Asked Tuesday about the alleged new evidence tying Wint to one of the victims, he said, "I have a lot of questions about that. Why is this coming out now?"

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/02/us/washing...s-suspect/
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Ficker is a funny fucker.

If my grandmothers were still alive, I'm certain that I would in fact mind them going to lunch with Wint.

[HairOfTheDog]

More Evidence Revealed from Search Warrants and Court Docs

Signs of Forced Entry
Court documents reveal police discovered a "single broken window pane" on a side door of the Savopoulos family's home and that "a shoe or boot print is visible on the exterior, suggesting forced entry." That dispels the theory that Wint may have been invited in the home since he worked for Savvas Savopoulos in the past. (HOTD: It also contradicts the earlier police statements to the public.)


^The boot print found on the exterior of the Savopoulos' home


Home Security Video Missing
Police are still searching for the family's extensive security system. CBS News learned Wednesday that the video recorder is missing.

Victims' Cell Phones Stolen
Police also believe the assailants stole the cell phones of the three adult victims and have been tracking the location of those phones, hoping that brings new leads or suspects.

Investigation of Personal Assistant
Detectives investigating the murders of four people in a Washington, D.C. mansion are focusing now on a former assistant to one of the victims.

Search warrants reveal police suspicions aimed at the man who delivered the ransom -- Jordan Wallace, the personal driver for and assistant to Savvas Savopoulos.

Police say Wallace lied or "changed his account" about the $40,000 he took to the Savopoulos family's mansion on the morning of the murders, including "how he received the package, where he left [it] and when he was told to get the package."

Investigators obtained a warrant for all of Wallace's texts, calls and locations going back to Sunday, May 10, three days before the family is believed to have been taken captive, tortured and later killed.

But the prime suspect in the case remains Daron Wint - who is currently in custody.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/search-warra...n-murders/

[ZEROSPHERES]

The proximity of these events is not just coincidence


http://www.nate-thayer.com/race-car-driv...-whodunit/

An investigation of court documents and public records show the rear of the parking lot of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church at 8001 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, Maryland, where the Porsche was set afire, is located immediately adjacent to the rear of the parking lot of the apartment complex where the Wallace family lived while Jordan Wallace was a teenager.

Records show that Wallace’s father, a retired police officer in Maryland, lived at 5303 85^th 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 85^th ave in New Carrollton–immediately next door to the former Wallace residence.