A North Whitehall teenager has admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother in 2023 at their home in North Catasauqua.
John Derwin Bradley on Wednesday pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in Northampton County Court, according to court documents.
Authorities said Bradley, who was 17 at the time, used a knife to kill his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, Rianna Lynn Glass, and her mother, Rosalyn “Rose” Siobal Glass, 39. He then stole the mother’s car and crashed it at high speed, gravely injuring a 14-year-old girl with him, authorities said.
Bradley also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated injury in the crash that injured the girl. A charge of theft by unlawful taking against him was withdrawn, according to court documents.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Bradley faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 35 years to life in prison for each murder charge, though a judge will decide if he serves those sentences concurrently, according to William Blake, Northampton County chief deputy district attorney.
Defense attorney Molly Heidorn did not respond to a request for comment from СŷƵ.
After Rianna’s death, her father, Terry Glass, started a nonprofit organization called to raise awareness of teen dating violence.
The nonprofit posted on social media Wednesday that the plea marks “the beginning of the end of this horrific chapter.”
“The next step is sentencing, where his fate will be decided. While no sentence will ever be enough — because nothing can bring Rianna back or undo the trauma he caused — I pray to find some comfort in knowing he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars,” the post reads. “This doesn’t bring closure, but it is a step toward justice. And maybe, with time, toward peace.”
According to court document and officials:
Bradley stabbed Rosalyn Glass 31 times, and killed Rianna Glass by stabbing and choking her, Sept. 13, 2023, while in their home in the 1100 block of Railroad Street. Bradley then stole Rosalyn Glass’ car, and crashed it in Upper Saucon Township.
The stabbings followed Bradley and Glass’ break-up in August 2023 after Bradley allegedly cheated on Rianna. The killings happened hours after Rianna told Bradley she was seeing someone else.
About 8:45 p.m. Sept. 13, Rianna spoke with a friend over a video call, telling her Bradley was coming over, court documents say. About four hours later, the same friend missed a call from Rianna, but received a text message saying, “He won’t leave the house.”
Bradley’s phone location data showed he was near the Glass home and his phone had connected to Rosyln Glass’s car. The car was found crashed about 6 a.m. about 15 miles from North Catasauqua.
Bradley and a 14-year-old girl were ejected from the car. Bradley was found near a tree, with a knife close by. Investigators found his DNA and the DNA of Rianna and Rosalyn Glass on the knife. The 14-year-old girl had been spotted going into the Glass’ home about 2:30 a.m., and was seen leaving from the back of the house with Bradley about an hour later, authorities said.
Bradley and the girl were hospitalized for their injuries from the crash. The girl was taken to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia with injuries described as “extraordinary.” The relationship between Bradley and the girl wasn’t clear.
Authorities said at the time it was not clear if the girl went into the home during the killings.
Rianna and Roslyn Glass were found dead in the home a few hours later. Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled their deaths homicide caused by sharp-force trauma.
Rianna was a junior at Northampton Area High School and was involved in the 3D Dance Studio in Northampton, according to her obituary. She had a passion for softball and worked at Dunkin’, according to the She had dreams of becoming a family lawyer, which showcased her “dedication to helping others and making a difference in the world,” the website states.
Rosalyn Glass worked at iHerb, a distribution center in Easton for an online supplement retailer, and was a member of Grace Christian Fellowship in Bethlehem, according to the
North Catasauqua double homicide: Court documents reveal timeline in killings
