New Details About Last Friday's Washington, D.C. Pipe Bomb Explosion

WJLA-TV ^ | July 19, 2002

[Shermy]

Washington - There's new information in the investigation of last Friday's pipe bomb explosion in Northwest Washington parking garage.

The brother of the man injured in last Friday's pipe bomb explosion has been added to a National Law Enforcement database, so police across the country will know he's a missing person.

Prescott Sigmund, 34, hasn't been seen by his family since Monday. Police say Prescott Sigmund disappeared soon after they asked him to take a polygraph test. Police say he's not a suspect, but they do want to question him.

Sigmund's half brother, 21-year-old Wright Sigmund, remains in critical condition. He was injured last Friday, when a bomb went of in their father's Chevy Blazer in a Northwest Washing parking garage.

Police believe their father, Donald Sigmund, was the target.

FBI agents went door to door Thursday in the Potomac neighborhood where Prescott Sigmund lives, looking for clues to his whereabouts. Federal agents tell us, all members of the Sigmund family are cooperating with the investigation.

Prescott Sigmund and his wife Bradey and two small children live in a house, once owned by Prescott's mother, Gwendolyn. We contacted Gwendolyn by phone Thursday and she tearfully told ABC 7, that she has not heard from her son.

Friends describe Prescott as "jovial, red faced, and a wonderful man." Like his father Donald, he is a diehard Redskins fan, who enjoys stadium tailgate parties. One neighbor who has known him for 12 years says, "this makes no sense."

Prescott grew up in Potomac, attended the Landon School in Bethesda. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked for his father's insurance company but left the firm in recent years.

One friend tells ABC 7 that he knew Prescott had financial troubles. Police sources tell us that Prescott incurred a $16,000 debt on one of his father's credit cards, and that the debt was a cause of some friction between the two men.

[Shermy]

Here's a WashPost article link:

Older Son Missing in Bomb Case - Half Brother Hurt in SUV Blast (June 18)

"The 34-year-old son of Washington insurance executive Donald W. Sigmund has been missing since Monday, police said yesterday, having disappeared as investigators were preparing to interview him again about the pipe bomb explosion in his father's car Friday....

He was supposed to meet his wife at a dinner engagement between 6:30 and 7 p.m. but did not show up, Utter said. He is believed to have been driving a black 1990 BMW 325i with Maryland license plates JPW 271....

Here's the first FR thread on the story:

Explosion in DC (July 12)

[swarthyguy]

"a diehard Redskins fan,"

You lose a bet to this guy?

[Shermy]

Update ping.

[Dog Gone]

Nah, in order for that to happen the Redskins would have to beat the Cowboys, and they can't do that anymore.

[terilyn]

Thanks so much for the ping. I would have missed this.

Hmmm...where is Prescott?

Obviously the step-son didn't set up the bomb and then forget it and go explode himself.

Sounds like Prescott figured if Daddy got offed, he'd inherit a chunk of dough and all the financial troubles would be over. So now where is he?

Would you mind keeping me posted if you see anything new on this?

Thanks much!

[Dante3]

An interesting case. Yet I haven't seem much in the media about it. Thanks for the info.

[MickMan51]

Hey Sherminator

Thanks for the update. The theory that the missing bro might have tried to off the old man is interesting. Wonder why the article doesn't speculate more about the reason / suspects for this. Thanks for the ping.

[aristeides]

Seems unlikely Prescott would have had the expertise to lay a pipe bomb. If he hired somebody, I wonder who that was.

[Fred Mertz]

If he hired somebody, I wonder who that was.

I don't think he could afford to hire someone, if you believe the 'financial difficulties' reports.