Police Investigate After Family Killed And House Set On Fire
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- A horrific arson and murder in one of DC's most affluent and close-knit neighborhoods. Now police are asking for the public's help finding the person responsible.
Linh Bui reports there are clues but very few answers.
The quadruple homicide is puzzling investigators and alarming neighbors. It happened at a home just blocks from the vice president's residence.
Police released surveillance video showing a man they call a person of interest. He was carrying a bag and sometimes running quickly.
Police say he may have taken the family's Porsche 9-11, driven it from their home in Washington to a church parking lot 13 miles away and then set it on fire.
"We certainly want to know if anyone saw that car and who was in it," said Washington DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
The crime last Thursday started with a house fire but investigators found four bodies: Savvas and Amy Savopoulos, their 10-year-old son and a family housekeeper. Police described the scene around the bodies as brutal. Three of the four victims suffered blunt force or sharp object wounds---meaning they'd been beaten before the fire began.
"We do know at this point that the fire appears to be intentionally set," Lanier said.
Adding to the mystery, there were no signs of forced entry and a second housekeeper, who asked to be anonymous, was due to work on Thursday but says she got an unusual text from Amy insisting she was not needed.
"She wants to make sure not to come to the house today but I don't know why. Thanks God that I saved my life," the housekeeper said.
The Savopoulos' have two teenage daughters but both were away at boarding schools. Daughter Abigail posted a heartbreaking message to her mother on Facebook just after Mother's Day: "Thank you for the past 19 years and I look forward to the many more to come. I am so lucky to be able to call you my mom."
The owners of the home were devoted parents, well-liked and respected in the community.
There's a $25,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest.