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Killers Terrorize Montco Family Prominent businessman stabbed; wife and kids tied up with duct tape.

Updated 5:57 PM EDT, Sat, Jan 10, 2009

Related Topics: Montgomery County

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Three men attacked and murdered a Montgomery County man who was about to head out to work Friday morning.

 

Updates:

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SUSPECT # 3 - Medium to Dark Skinned Black Male, Early 20's 5'10 tall; Approx. 160 pounds Slender Build Neatly Trimmed Beard, Very Slight Mustache LSW: Brown Pullover Hoodie Faded (On Front of Legs) Blue Jeans

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SUSPECT #1 -- Dark Skinned Black Male, Mid 30's 6'2" tall; Approx. 300 pounds Very Large Build Mustache and Goatee Beard LSW: Blue Hoodie Armed with a Stainless/Silver Handgun

Montco Home Invasion Leaves 1 Dead

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58-year-old Robert Chae was killed when a group of bandits burst into his home to rob his family.

$5,000 Reward offered for info that leads to the capture and conviction of the three suspects.

Sketches released of Suspect #1 and Suspect #3.


Pure terror. A prominent businessman was about to leave for work Friday morning, opened his garage door and was attacked by three men and stabbed to death.

 

The attackers then stormed his home in the 100 block of Gwynmont Drive, corralled his wife and two grown children into the basement and tied them up with duct tape.

While one of the guys kept watch on the children, the other two forced the wife to tell them where the money was kept.

She eventually took them to the safe and opened it.

The wife somehow got out of the basement and went screaming to a neighbor. When the attackers discovered she’d escaped, they made a quick getaway through the basement door.

Police think the suspects not only knew the victim, they knew the family’s routine.

The victim, 58-year old Robert Chae, owned and ran the Penn Center Beauty Supply Center in Center City.

Update: Police took surveillance tape and a computer from Chae's business early in the afternoon. The beauty supply was closed. The victim's son was there with police. He had cuts on his ear, presumably from the attack. Customers told NBC10 Photographer Pete Kane that Chae was a wonderful person. 

He was the former President of the Korean Beauty Supply Association.

Chae was also a very active member of the Korean Young Sang Presbyterian church in Horsham, Pa.

Montgomery Township Police describe the suspects as three black men who fled in a dark-colored SUV.

Chief Richard Brady is asking anyone with information to contact the Montgomery Township Detective Bureau at 215-362-2300.

Comments (52)

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  • Vigilant Tuesday, Jan 13 at 12:26 PM FLAG COMMENT I'm sure Mr. Chae didn't emmigrate to this country to get killed. A total tragedy.
  • Nina Monday, Jan 12 at 10:31 PM FLAG COMMENT The Chae family will be in my prayers.
  • Sweetness Monday, Jan 12 at 5:23 PM FLAG COMMENT Poverty doesn't create crime. CRIME CREATES POVERTY. What business is going to stay in an area where the chimps are more inclined to rob than to work.
  • Concerned citizen Monday, Jan 12 at 4:57 PM FLAG COMMENT Why did they wait so long to show these animals? It it because they are black? Gee, what a surprise....the local "liberal"paper editors should be fined for this.
  • real situation Monday, Jan 12 at 4:00 AM FLAG COMMENT as a part of the korean philly community, this actually is a little racial. among the korean community, there have been many warnings to store owners about these types of situations. This is the first murder that i heard of, but there have been many robberies. my dad actually called a friend around thanksgiving time, only to have his friend secretly answer the phone cause he was getting robbed. many korean owned businesses hav ... MORE >

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