Four found dead in D.C. home after ‘suspicious’ fire

This combination of undated photos provided by the Washington, D.C., police shows Daron Dylon Wint. The police issued a news release late Wednesday, May 20, 2015, saying they are looking for Wint in connection with last Thursday’s quadruple homicide of a wealthy Washington family and their housekeeper inside their multimillion-dollar home. (Metropolitan Police Department via AP)
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser listens at left as Police Chief Cathy Lanier speaks during a news conference in Washington, Thursday, May 21, 2015, to discuss the investigation into the mysterious slayings of a wealthy Washington family and their housekeeper. Lanier said investigators believe a suspect in the slayings is in the Brooklyn area of New York City. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Investigators inspect the fire-damaged multimillion-dollar home in northwest Washington home, Wednesday, May 20, 2015, where four people were found dead May 14. Police Chief Cathy Lanier earlier identified two of the victims found dead as 46-year-old Savvas Savopoulos and his 47-year-old wife, Amy Savopoulos. Police believe the other two victims are the couple’s 10-year-old son and a housekeeper. Police say the deaths are being investigated as a homicide. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
A police car remains outside the Woodland Drive home Thursday where the Savopoulos family was found killed last week. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A police car remains outside the Woodland Drive home Thursday where the Savopoulos family was found killed last week. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Woodland Drive house
Three people were found dead and one other in critical condition in a Northwest D.C. home that was on fire Thursday afternoon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Woodland Drive D.C.
The scene where three people were found dead and there was a house fire Thursday. (WTOP/Michell Basch)
An arson investigation crew leaves the scene of a fire at a D.C. house. Three people were found dead in the house. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
medical examiner
The medical examiner arrives at a D.C. home where three people were found dead. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
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A police car remains outside the Woodland Drive home Thursday where the Savopoulos family was found killed last week. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Woodland Drive house
Woodland Drive D.C.
medical examiner

WASHINGTON — Four people died in a fire the Metropolitan Police Department is calling “very suspicious” at a Northwest D.C. house.

The fire happened at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the 3200 block of Woodland Drive in Northwest D.C. Four people — three adults and one child — were found dead on the second floor of the house when fire crews arrived, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier said in a news conference Thursday evening.

“There were no signs obvious signs of forced entry, although the nature and origin of the fire is very suspicious,” Lanier said, adding that the blaze and deaths are being investigated by a joint arson task force.

Neighbor Joe Carregal said he was walking his dog when he smelled smoke and went to check out what was happening down the block from where he lives.”It was all smoke and then boom, it went to fire, coming from the second floor,” he said. A man started knocking on the door but no one answered, Carregal said. Firefighters arrived shortly after and had to break down the door. They used two ladder trucks to get to the roof.

Within about 25 minutes, “we saw three people come out on stretchers,” Carregal said, adding that medics were performing CPR.

Authorities have not released information about the identities of the people who died, nor have they said whether they were related.

Nelly Gutierrez, who worked as a housekeeper, at the house, says she got a text message from a woman who lived in the house at about 10 a.m., telling her not to come to work Thursday. She says the woman didn’t give her a reason. “It saved my life,” Gutierrez says.

She adds that another housekeeper, who was like a big sister to her, had worked in the house for four years. Gutierrez fears that her friend died in the fire. “I can’t believe it,” she says. “I’m still in shock.”

Police are asking for the public’s help with information surrounding a blue 2008 Porsche 911 with D.C. tags DK 2418 that was last seen at the home around 10:30 a.m., Lanier says.

The car has been found, but police want the whereabouts of the vehicle between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday as it could help in the investigation. Anyone with information can call 202-727-9099.

A team of officers is going through the neighborhood to ask people for any information and let people know what is happening, Lanier says.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the agency is assisting in investigating the cause and origin of the fire.

Below is a map of the location near the incident:

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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