Police investigating the killing of a wealthy Washington, D.C., family last month searched the car of a personal assistant who delivered $40,000 to the home before the murders, which was found parked a block away from the scene of the crime, police said in court documents released Friday.
The 28-year-old aide, Jordan Wallace, has not been charged or named as a suspect in the deaths of Savvas Savopolous, CEO of American Iron Works; his wife, Amy, 47; their 10-year-old son, Philip; and their housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, who were found beaten to death in the Savopolous’ burning mansion on May 14.
In the hours before they were killed, Savopolous asked Wallace to bring the cash to the house, where, investigators now believe, the family was being held captive in an ordeal that began around 6 p.m. May 13 and ended with the fire and discovery of the bodies at around 1:30 p.m. on May 14. Wallace changed his account to detectives about details of the delivery, police said.
Wallace told police the car was so close to the home because he drove to the house from Virginia after learning of the fire, according to the Washington Post.
Police sought permission to search the car, and said they were looking for "forensic and physical evidence linking Jordan Wallace to this offense."
Detectives took Wallace's passport and checkbook, two backpacks, a laptop and external hard drive and pieces of the car's exterior and interior, according to the documents. Nothing in the court documents suggest a link to the killings. NBC News has tried unsuccessfully to contact Wallace.
Police have charged Darron Wint, a 34-year-old former American Iron Works employee, in the murders. His DNA was found on crusts of pizza delivered to the Savopolous home the night before the murders, authorities said. Police have said they believe Wint had help from more than one person. but Wint is so far the only person charged.
Investigators described in search warrant applications a boot print found on the exterior of a side door, suggesting that someone forced their way into the house.
Wint was arrested a week after the murders while riding a two-car convoy from Maryland into Washington D.C. The other occupants of those cars were questioned and released without being charged. Investigators found stacks of cash, and one of the occupants admitted purchasing more than $10,000 in money orders after the murders. A later search turned up a pair of knives, money order receipts, among other items, according to search warrant applications released by authorities on Friday.
When detectives interviewed Wallace, he initially told them Savopolous had sent him a text asking for the delivery on May 14, according to documents filed in court. But after being questioned about a text message from Savopolous the night before, Wallace said he'd made a mistake, and that the request had been made that night, on May 13.
In one of the May 13 texts, Wallace wrote to Savopoulos: “Got your message, I’ll call you once I get the package," according to the Washington Post.
The next morning, Wallace texted Savopoulos, "Package delivered," the Post reported.
Wallace also admitted he'd lied about how the money was packaged, according to court documents. In the first version provided to police, Wallace said he'd collected the cash in a manila envelope from the bank with Savopolous' accountant. Later, Wallace admitted he'd actually first put the money in a red bag, then transferred it to an envelope in his car before dropping the package in a car parked in Savopolous' garage.
Wallace showed detectives his cell phone, which included text messages and records of calls with Savopolous.
Detectives also interviewed a witness who received a text from Wallace that shared photos of a red lined bag holding cash, according to the documents.
According to the Post, the text was sent on May 14. The woman replied, "Daaaamn. I wonder how much it is?"
Wallace responded, "40," the Post reported.
The woman replied, "Jesus."
