Joseph Canazaro, 48, was killed inside his rental home in the unit block of Swartley Road in Hilltown Township, a home he shared with his live-in girlfriend and his two children.
Canazaro was the co-owner of an Ambler tavern along with other business interests. Sources confirm police are looking at his financial history, including a bankruptcy declaration several years ago.
Those sources said that bankruptcy declaration came three days after he bounced two large checks at a Philadelphia check cashing agency, one worth $150,000 and another worth $60,000.
Police say the home invasion happened around 6:30 a.m. as two men broke through a first-floor window and entered brandishing handguns.
Canazaro's girlfriend and his 12-year-old son were still at home at the time of the killing. They were tied up but later managed to escape. His 15-year-old son had already left for school.
The killers took several guns from Canazaro's collection before fleeing in his Lincoln pickup truck.
That truck was later found abandoned in Quakertown. Police and FBI agents have collected surveillance video from along the 12 mile stretch of Route 309 between there and the crime scene.
Canazaro's girlfriend and children have not returned to the home. Police have only said they are someplace "safe."
Authorities have set up two tip lines in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 267-517-9119 or 215-453-6011.
