Du Pont’s Weapon Found, Da Says Accused Killer Held In Isolation As Estate Searched For Evidence

As John E. du Pont passed his first day in a prison cell, investigators scoured his estate Monday gathering evidence needed to prove he shot and killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.

Delaware County district attorney Patrick Meehan said that a handgun believed to be have been used in the killing was recovered by police in the study of the millionaire’s mansion.

Meehan was circumspect about what else police have found.

“Some weapons were recovered and we believe we found the weapon that was used in the commission of the homicide,” Meehan said. No explosives or drugs were located during a search of du Pont’s estate.

Du Pont, who was captured Sunday after a 48-hour standoff with police, is being held in a private cell at Delaware County prison while awaiting a preliminary hearing Thursday in front of District Justice David Videon.

Du Pont was placed in isolation from the rest of the prison population after inmates greeted his arrival at Delaware County prison Sunday night with chants of “Du-Pont, du-Pont, du-Pont.”

“I just felt that it was the safe and prudent thing to move him into a cell alone,” Meehan said. It was a typical cell without any special amenities, according to the district attorney.

Still unclear is the motive behind the shooting. Du Pont allegedly shot and killed Schultz, who lived on his estate, as Schultz was working on a car in his driveway on Friday.

When Nancy Schultz, the slain wrestler’s wife, gave a statement to reporters following du Pont’s capture, she said, “I have no idea why John committed this senseless and brutal murder of my husband.”

Du Pont is being represented by a high-powered legal team that includes former Philadelphia district attorney Richard Sprague, Paoli attorney Taras Wochok, and former Chester County district attorney William Lamb.