Three adults and one child were found dead in a home in the expensive Woodley Park neighborhood of D.C. Thursday afternoon, police said.
D.C. Fire & EMS was called to the 3200 block of Woodland Drive NW about 1:30 p.m., where they found a large home with smoke and fire coming from the roof.
When firefighters entered the home, they found four people dead inside. Police have not identified the victims or how they are related to each other.
A couple with two daughters and a younger son live in the home, according to neighbors. Sources told News4 the boy was absent from school Thursday.
St. Albans School sent a letter home to parents Thursday informing them that there was a tragedy at the house of a St. Albans family and chaplains, counselors and nurses were preparing to support students, faculty and staff in the days to come.
A man who waited for hours for information from police said he has a relative who works at the house doing general cleaning, but he has not been able to reach that relative all day.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the fire appears to be "very suspicious" in nature.
D.C. police and the district's Arson Task Force have taken over the investigation at what investigators called a "major crime scene" located just blocks from the National Cathedral.
Investigators are also looking for information about a 2008 blue Porsche 911 with D.C. license plates DK 2418. The car was seen near the house about 10:30 a.m. Police found the car unoccupied late Thursday afternoon but want to know more about where it was earlier today. Anyone with information should call police at 202-727-9099.
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There is no sign of forced entry into the home, police said. The fire took about 30 minutes to extinguish.
Investigators will go through the neighborhood to talk to potential witnesses and make sure the surrounding residents know what is happening with the investigation, Lanier said.
"We are trying to reassure residents," Lanier said. "At the same time, I'm going to ask them if they have any information to give us a call."
