WASHINGTON – A husband, wife, their son and housekeeper were identified as the four found killed inside a multimillion house near the National Cathedral, and the fire that led to their discovery has been ruled arson.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier identified two of the victims as Savvas Savopoulos, 46, and his wife Amy Savopoulos, 47. Also believed to have been killed were the couple’s 10-year-old son Philip and Veralicia Figueroa, their 57-year-old housekeeper from Silver Spring.
They were all found dead inside a Woodland Drive home after fire crews arrived to put out a house fire there about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Three of the four victims suffered sharp object or blunt force trauma injuries. Lanier did not specify who suffered which injuries. She said that the autopsies were not yet completed but that their deaths were homicides.
Lanier also said that investigators have determined the blaze was intentionally set.
A blue 2008 Porsche 911 with D.C. tags DK 2418, which is connected to the investigation, was also set on fire and found on Annapolis Road in Prince George’s County Thursday evening, Lanier said.
Investigators want to hear from anyone who may have seen the Porsche or who may have seen anything suspicious around the house between Wednesday and about 5 p.m. Thursday.
Lanier said there were no obvious signs that someone had broken into the house or that the home had been ransacked. But investigators continue to comb through the crime scene and evidence collection will take several days.
Investigators are also reviewing video connected to the case, she said.
The Associated Press reported that the Savopouloses also had two older daughters who, according to neighbors, attend boarding schools out of state. The daughters are safe and police know their whereabouts, a police spokeswoman said.
Savvas Savopoulos was the president of American Iron Works, a building materials manufacturer based in Hyattsville, Maryland. The family’s home is valued at $4.5 million, according to The Associated Press.
