Earlier this week we reported on some of the twists and turns in the murder investigation of 32-year-old lawyer Robert Wone in a Swann Street rowhouse in early August. A killing that was originally blamed on an intruder suddenly became more complicated late last week, when police announced that the room in which Wone’s body had been found had been cleaned before police could arrive at the scene. Commenters on our post — some who knew Wone, others who know the residents of the house in which he was killed — floated a number of theories as to what happened and why it happened. Now police are looking in a new direction — criminal conspiracy.

WUSA 9 reported last night that police are looking towards the three residents of the rowhouse as being potential suspects. They reported:

Law enforcement sources tell 9NEWS NOW it’s becoming increasingly clear the murder of Robert Wone involves a criminal conspiracy. Multiple sources say, at the very least, the attempted clean-up; if not the act of murder itself, involves more than one person…

Furthermore, we’re told it is very obvious anyone present inside that row-house would have been aware of the killing and subsequent activity inside such a small dwelling. One official told us “it’s like a sardine can inside.” The owner of the house, Joseph Price is general counsel for Equality Virginia, a gay lobbyist group and a member of the Arent Fox law firm where his office has been searched and his computer seized by homicide detectives…

Once again, police sources say there is no evidence of any other person inside the house that night. The back door was open, we’re told, but not forced open. Detectives suspect it was left open as part of the cover-up.

News like this is sure to fuel rumors concerning the motives for the crime, not to mention the role that the three residents of the house — two of which are prominent members of the gay community — may have played in it. Of course, the investigation won’t likely go anywhere fast — the three have hired defense attorneys, and not the cheap kind.