State police have identified two suspects in the investigation into the brutal year-end slaying of 74-year-old James S. Martin at his East Butler home.

The pair was arrested last week after evidence linked them to the dead man’s bank debit card.

Police say Christopher Michael Cannon, 27, and Raheem Rondel Archer, 23, both of Butler, used or tried to use the card at two stores after the victim was repeatedly stabbed to death in his single-story house on Tenth Street.

“They are suspects in the homicide,” police Lt. Eric Hermick said this morning of Cannon and Archer. “Cannon is the stronger suspect for the violence that occurred in this case.”

Hermick released few details of the latest developments in the investigation. He acknowledged the suspects and Martin previously knew one another, but he would not elaborate.

Neither Cannon nor Archer has been charged in the homicide. For now, they are only charged in the alleged debit card fraud.

Cannon remains in the Butler County Prison on $30,000 bail. He also is being held on a probation detainer. Archer is free after posting $5,000 bail.

It was not immediately known if either suspect has an attorney. Archer could not be reached for comment this morning.

Police said Archer in an interview following his arrest “denied any involvement in the homicide.”

Martin was found dead in his blood-stained home, where he lived alone, shortly after 9 a.m. Dec. 31. An autopsy determined he suffered fatal stab wounds to the head, neck, chest and back.

Authorities have declined to say how many times he was stabbed. But the number and severity of the wounds, Hermick said, indicate “anger and rage” on the part of Martin’s attacker.

Investigators believe he was likely dead for at least six hours, and up to 12 hours, when the body was discovered by a female friend who was to meet Martin at the home to go out for breakfast.

The house was ransacked but it was not immediately clear to police that robbery was a motive.

There was no forced entry at the house, which was rigged with surveillance cameras inside and out. The doors were locked. The front door was equipped with a keypad lock.

That evidence, Hermick said, suggested that Martin either knew the suspect and let the person in, or that the person knew the keypad code.

Police during their investigation obtained search warrants to go through the victim’s financial accounts, cell phone and computer records and the video of the home security system.

The apparent break in the case happened Wednesday as investigators were beginning to scour Martin’s bank records.

A woman that same day notified police to report fraudulent transactions on a First National Bank-issued debit card that she shared with Martin.

Hermick was not certain of the relationship between the woman and victim. The co-cardholders were the only individuals authorized to use it.

Police said their investigation, which included reviewing store surveillance video, soon tied Cannon and Archer to the card.

Investigators believe one of the suspects took the card from Martin’s wallet that was in the house.

Cannon allegedly used it at 3:32 a.m. Dec. 31 at the Sheetz on New Castle Road in Butler Township. He bought gift cards and a bottle of water for $215.28, according to court documents.

That same day, police said, Archer attempted to make a $413.90 purchase at the Clearview Mall Giant Eagle in Center Township, using the same card.

The would-be purchase was denied. Police noted that Archer’s Giant Eagle Advantage Card was scanned during the attempted transaction.

Police on Friday arrested Cannon and Archer, who are occasional roommates. Cannon “lawyered up,” Hermick said, and made no statement to police.

Cannon was arraigned on felony charges of access device fraud and a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property.

Archer was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of access device fraud and receiving stolen property.

Hermick said they continue to investigate the case, which now will include trying to match DNA and fingerprint evidence collected from the crime scene to Cannon and Archer.

“This criminal case,” he said, “is complex and dynamic.”