Joseph Canazaro cold case: Suspect Thomas Delgado arrested after DNA from mask helps crack murder
HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA: After more than a decade of relentless pursuit, authorities have arrested 50-year-old Thomas Delgado in connection to the chilling home invasion killing of Joseph Canazaro in 2013.
US Marshals apprehended Delgado on Wednesday, January 10, in Philadelphia, acting on an arrest warrant issued in December 2023, shedding light on a cold case that has haunted Bucks County for 11 years.
Timeline of home invasion
DNA evidence, crucial in cracking the case, was extracted from a mask allegedly used by one of the suspects during the home invasion robbery that resulted in Canazaro's tragic death on January 18, 2013.
According to authorities, the suspect and an accomplice broke into the Canazaro's home, where they tied him up, along with his girlfriend and 12-year-old son. Somehow Canazaro's girlfriend and son managed to escape and called 911. But when the police arrived, they found Canazaro dead inside the garage.
The suspects fled the scene after stealing goods from the home, using the victim's truck. The truck was later discovered at the Quakertown Plaza Shopping Center. Surveillance footage captured the suspects transferring the stolen items from the truck to a red Nissan sedan.
Mask clue leads to 34 charges against Thomas Delgado
Delgado faces a staggering 34 charges, including homicide, kidnapping, rape, and robbery, in connection to the incident that shook the community. The breakthrough in the case came when investigators recovered a mask inside Canazaro's truck, leading to the identification of the suspects through DNA evidence.
"It would be wrong to call this a cold case. These detectives have spent more than a decade seeking justice for these victims," said District Attorney Jen Schorn. "Like they always do, detectives never relented in the pursuit for justice, and now, we are able to announce an arrest. We are continuing to investigate this murder and are asking for the public’s help for information," Fox reported.
Delgado is expected to appear in court on January 25, facing a litany of charges related to the horrific events of that fateful day.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354 or the Hilltown Township Police Department at 215-435-6011. Tips can also be submitted at www.bucksda.org as the investigation into this long-standing cold case continues.
