Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta said James Christopher Frank of Bethlehem Township has been sentenced to life in prison for First-Degree Murder after the 2025 stabbing death of his wife.

On March 11, 2025, at approximately 0830 hours, Bethlehem Township police officers were dispatched to 2120 Third Street for a welfare check after a family member reported concerns.

Officers made contact with Frank, who was asked to open the front door. He led them into the bedroom and stated, “My wife is dead in the bathtub.” Police detained Frank and located his wife, Deborah Glaser, deceased in the bathtub. Numerous cutting instruments, including knives, razor blades, and box cutters, along with a mallet, were located inside the bathroom. Frank admitted to police that he used a steak knife to cut Glaser’s throat in the trachea area while she was still alive. Frank then told police that he used a knife and hammer to puncture Glaser’s chest and heart, estimating he did this approximately 10 times. Frank said this was to ensure that Glaser was dead. On June 10, 2026, Frank entered a plea of guilty to the charge of first-degree murder.

On June 17, Frank was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.