Fire in upper NW?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same one where police shoot 12 year year old boys playing with toy guns, where they kidnap and rape school girls en masse from villages, where they kidnap young children into slavery for prostitution and hard labor, where they shoot girls in the head for advocating for educational rights …

I know. Everyday there are horrors in the world--worse than this. This one just feels close to home for me--but --sadly, you're right.

Having lived in the DC area for years and having kept up with the news on crimes like this, nine times out of 10 its garden variety thugs perpetrating these crimes. This sounds no different. Nice to speculate about the conspiracies like a martial arts rival but face it, they were very vulnerable where they lived and they are not far from some of the roughest areas on the East Coast. Let this be a lesson: if you are going to live in a fancy neighborhood in this area: pay extra for very good security. Get dogs, get a guard, build high cement walls and put sharp glass on top. Do NOT flaunt your wealth. This is not Kansas, people. Visit Bogota, Colombia and get some ideas of how you can beef up on your personal security. I am always astounded at how vulnerable wealthy people make themselves.

Actually, this crime does sound different. Very, very different. Not talking about ninja sword Shogun theories.

Rather, the protracted nature of the events (24 hours? 36 hours?) and the spectacular brutality -- not to mention the number of homicides -- is very rare.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

[Anonymous]

You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does make sense that the maid was first to die. If the message was left on Wednesday night to say the maid was sleeping there I wonder what time that call was made. It doesn't sound like this was a middle of the night home invasion. I wonder how late the maid normally worked. Do we know when the 2nd maid heard the message and called the husband? It had to have been on Wednesday at a reasonable hour. The husband would've been worried and gone looking for his wife on Wednesday night if not.

Is there mention of Mrs Savopoulos going for money or is that speculation? These criminals no doubt were in that neighborhood before. I doubt they knew the victims. They will be caught. I can't imagine watching another person suffer and not feel anything. Does DC have the death penalty? I hope so.

DC does not have a death penalty.

They don't....nor could the bastards who did this have used a gun, because they are illegal in DC as well....and that would be criminal.....

Its a personal choice, but I wish this family had had the choice under DC law to have weapons in their home. They would have had a chance.

I do suspect that the Porsche in Maryland, crossing state lines, makes this federal enough, there will be a death penalty charge somewhere in this if/when they catch this/these people.

Why doesn't DC have home rule? This is why.

You need to update your talking points, because it is now legal to own a handgun in DC, not that that issue has anything to do with home rule. Please see http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller.

Try to get one.....friends have....DCPD said with minors in the house, that would be irresponsible, and DC child protective services has to randomly check your house...true story. They thumb their nose at Heller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

LOL! I never watch TV dramas. I barely watch TV. We don't even have cable. Nice try, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

[Anonymous]

Anytime a crime happens in a major city the press has to try play some sort of terrorist angle, no matter how attenuated it seems--so we'll keep hearing the absurd references to Biden and Clinton's house--even though it has zero relevance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

so, you could have made your point as stated above instead of being snarky.

also, i disagree. amazing properties along Foxhall, parts of Kalorama, and 16th street that aren't right on the sidewalk. maybe YOU should get out in DC a bit more...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anytime a crime happens in a major city the press has to try play some sort of terrorist angle, no matter how attenuated it seems--so we'll keep hearing the absurd references to Biden and Clinton's house--even though it has zero relevance.

Exactly. One of the reasons that I got rid of cable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

I have spent a lot of time in Latin America and every single one of those houses - without exception - would be surrounded by very high walls with very sharp material at top and with viscious dogs and/or guards at the ready. If you've got that kind of wealth, instead of wasting it on Van Gogh's and Picasso prints, get yourself better security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

Take a look at the story on recent murders in Rockville Maryland. House set back far from street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

Yes. DC is the same as NYC or Paris in that way--but most tourists never see it. They think there is just the Mall, some museums and then an urban ghetto hellscape beyond.

[Anonymous]

3rd world countries have a lot of crime including kidnapping for ransom which is an industry in itself in some latin american countries thus the high walls and security for houses.

In DC, even the mansions are close to the sidewalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have just revealed yourself to be writing from a place far away from Washington DC. I'm also sure that you watch a lot of TV in your small town.

It was protracted because it was a robbery gone wrong. They didn't expect to encounter a martial artist on the other side of the door. No doubt that he fought to the death. He probably held them at bay with all his samurai swords and ninja weapons but they probably had the upper hand by taking his wife and child hostage. No doubt they were simply after $$$, like all thugs. I saw a pic of the house and it is uncomfortably close to a public sidewalk. If I had that kind of wealth, no way would I choose a house that vulnerable.

not the PP, but I live in DC and that was my first thought as well when i saw the picture of the house - very close to the sidewalk. very easy access.

My point is that if you "live in DC", you know that with a precious few exceptions, ALL homes "in DC" are very very close to the sidewalk. Including the large majority of the mulitmillion properties (Kalorama, Georgetown, Cap Hill, Logan, Dupont, Cathedral, Woodley, Cleveland Park and so on). The rolling lawn thing is not an urban feature and a tiny percentage of homes with an actual DC address have such a buffer.

I live in NW DC in a home that isn't as close to neighbors/sidewalk and I was actually thinking it's more vulnerable to be this way - their home was close to neighbors and hustle and bustle/people walking by etc. We have a good security system as well as cameras in our home...most of our neighbors do too. I wonder if this family did...you'd think so.

[Anonymous]

Why would a lawn make you safer? It isn't a moat with a drawbridge. I would think that being set back from the road/sidewalk with a big lot would make it harder for neighbors or passersby to hear if there was something wrong.