Du Pont Heir Captured, Ending Standoff

A tense 48-hour standoff between police and a millionaire accused of killing an Olympic wrestler ended Sunday when the heir to the Du Pont fortune was captured as he tried to restore heat to his chilled mansion.

John E. du Pont was unarmed when he stepped outside to fix his boiler and was arrested by a SWAT team hiding in the woods. He was not injured. He had been without heat since police cut off his boiler system Friday night.

Prosecutors said he would be charged with the murder of Dave Schultz, a 1984 Olympic gold medal winner who was training at the wrestling center on Du Pont’s estate. Schultz, 36, was slain Friday just as he left his home on the grounds to repair his car radio. Immediately after the shooting, Du Pont took refuge in his manor house, modeled after James Madison’s Montpelier home in Virginia.

Since then, 75 police officers surrounding the 800-acre estate had been keeping a wary distance because Du Pont, an expert marksman with a history of bizarre behavior sometimes fueled by drugs and alcohol, possessed an arsenal of heavy weapons.

SWAT team members and technicians restored phone service to the mansion Friday night, repairing damage caused by mysterious fires at the estate in October, and also turned off the valves for the boiler in an underground tunnel nearby.

The discomfort of the cold and drafty manor house did its work, and Du Pont, wearing running tights and a black leather jacket advertising his Foxcatcher wrestling team, told police negotiators in a phone conversation Sunday that he was coming out to fix the boiler.

Police were more than happy to oblige.

“Shortly after 3 o’clock today as the result of negotiations, we encouraged John du Pont to exit his home and proceed in a southerly direction to a location where there were hot-water boilers,” said Police Chief Mike Mallon of the suburban Newtown Township Police Department.

“His intent was to make repairs to the boilers because he was without heat. Within a few moments, our SWAT teams made a capture.

“It was an extremely trying, difficult situation. Our SWAT teams were out in rain and high winds, extremely cold weather . . . and they did an excellent job,” Mallon added. “There were no shots fired. No one was injured. I call that a very successful resolution.”

Looking dazed, Du Pont was kneeling in a black van with his wrists handcuffed behind him as he was taken from the estate to the local police station and jail.

Du Pont was arraigned on murder and weapons charges. He was being held without bond pending a hearing Thursday.

Police said the violence began Friday afternoon when Du Pont pulled up in his silver Lincoln Town Car and opened fire as Schultz was standing outside his home on the estate grounds. Schultz lived on the estate with his wife and two children.

According to an affidavit, Nancy Schultz saw Du Pont fire a third shot into her husband’s body after he had fallen to the ground. She told police that Du Pont also pointed the .38-caliber revolver at her, the affidavit said.

She read a short statement to reporters after the standoff ended: “Our family is devastated and saddened by Dave’s brutal, unexpected loss. He was not only a world-class athlete, coach and mentor, but a devoted and loving father to our children, and husband to me for the past 14 years.”

She refused to discuss the circumstances or answer questions.

A bodyguard was in Du Pont’s car during the shooting, but police said he will not be charged. His name has not been released.

Throughout the ordeal, police conducted sporadic phone negotiations with Du Pont, a great-great grandson of Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, founder of the Wilmington, Del.-based corporation.

Though barricaded inside his mansion with its tall stone pillars, sweeping circular driveway and formal gardens, police said Du Pont made no threats during conversations that sometimes lasted only two minutes and at other times stretched to a dozen.

Just before he emerged from the house to fix the heat, police termed the conversations “cordial.” A retired FBI agent who had served as a hostage negotiator also sometimes spoke with Du Pont.

“He’s in there saying: ‘Should I shoot myself? Should I turn myself in? Or should I get a Bronco and drive around on the freeway?’ ” said Bill Ryan, who until this month was with the local district attorney’s office.

Negotiations that started early Saturday broke off at 9 p.m. at Du Pont’s request for sleep and then resumed about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Du Pont had helped train some local police officers who used a firing range on his estate.

Sandy Wark, who owns a local service station, said Du Pont and Schultz visited the local elementary school Wednesday.

She said her two sons attend the school, and Du Pont and Schultz worked with children rehearsing for a talent show.

“Both of my children can’t believe it happened because they knew both of them. To them, it’s just frightening,” Wark said as she stood watching police and reporters gathered outside the estate.

Times wire services contributed to this story.