Kenneth J. Cernobyl, 50, of North Catasauqua, was sentenced Oct. 16 to life in prison without parole following a guilty plea to first-degree murder. He was charged in the Dec. 6, 2017, slaying of his wife Holly, 47, at their Fifth Street home.

Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden, who imposed the sentence, ordered him be moved to state prison as soon as possible.

According to reports, after killing his wife, Cernobyl told family and friends that she was sick or at work. Two days later, his son Nicholas, 25, discovered his mother’s body in his parents’ basement.

Cernobyl admitted to state police that he struck his wife in the back of the head with a baseball bat and then strangled her. He is unable to explain why he did it, but he told McFadden he misses his wife.

Attorney Mark Minotti, who represented Cernobyl, had his client evaluated by a psychologist. There was no evidence of mental illness or substance abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Bill Blake theorized that Cernobyl may have been under stress because he had been lying to his family about a job.

According to reports, the day before the murder, an eviction order had been filed against Cernobyl and his wife. It is alleged he killed her when the couple was getting ready to visit the bank.