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Robert Chae, 58, who operated a beauty supply business at 2 Penn Center in Philadelphia, appeared to have been stabbed to death inside his garage.
His wife, Janice, and two adult children also were bound with tape by the attackers, who robbed the family of an undisclosed amount of cash and other belongings, said Kevin Steele, Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney.
"This was a violent home invasion," Steele said.
Robert Chae was attacked immediately after opening the garage door of his two-story, four-bedroom home in Montgomery Township, about a mile from the Montgomery Mall. The assault occurred sometime between 5 and 6 a.m. as Robert and Janice Chae were preparing to leave for work, Steele said.
"Indications seem to be that this house was cased or that these people were cased," Steele said. "For three people to be there when a garage door was opened is unusual."
Montgomery Township police said that the attackers took Janice Chae and her two children, who had been sleeping upstairs, to the basement of the home, where they were bound with duct tape.
While one of the robbers watched the children, police said, the others forced Janice Chae to tell them where her money was kept. She eventually led the robbers to a safe in the house and opened it, police said.
At some point, Janice Chae managed to escape through a basement door, police said. When the robbers discovered she had left, they fled through the basement door, and last were seen headed toward a cul-de-sac in the neighborhood.
Police said they are seeking three men driving a dark sport utility vehicle.
Robert Chae operated the Penn Center Beauty Supply business at 2 Penn Center in Philadelphia.
Police were stationed this morning outside the closed business, located in the concourse between Suburban Station and City Hall.
Young Bang, 57, owner of the neighboring Penn Center Jewelry, said she last saw Robert Chae around 4:30 p.m. yesterday.
"He's very happy. He says he's going [on vacation] next week," said Bang, who described herself as a longtime family friend.
Robert Chae had been a business owner in the concourse for 25 years, Bang said. First he owned PC's Restaurant, also located in the underground concourse, she said. He sold that and started the beauty supply store.
Junghyun Jang, editor of the Korean Philadelphia Times, said that Chae was well-known in the business community and had served two years as president of the Pennsylvania Korean Beauty Supply Association.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Montgomery Township detectives at 215-362-2300.
Inquirer staff writers Robert Moran and Sam Wood contributed to this article.
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