A Pennsylvania man, aged 57, has been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of his wife. James Christopher Frank was taken into custody on Tuesday, facing a felony criminal homicide charge for the death of Deborah Glaser, as reported by local authorities.
The Northampton County Office of the District Attorney released a statement detailing the events leading to Frank’s arrest. On Tuesday evening, around 8:30 p.m., Bethlehem Township Police Department officers responded to a welfare check request at a residence on 3rd Street. The individual who made the call, a family member, expressed concern about the occupants of the house.
Upon arrival, first responders attempted to enter the house and were met by Frank, who informed them that his wife, Deborah Glaser, was dead in the bathroom. Frank then guided the officers to the bathroom where they found Glaser with multiple stab wounds. A hammer and various sharp objects, including knives, razor blades, and box cutters, were also discovered at the scene.
According to the release, Frank confessed to the police that he had used a steak knife to slit Glaser’s throat while she was still alive. He also admitted to using a knife and a hammer to pierce Glaser’s chest and heart, estimating he did so about 10 times. Frank stated that his intention was to ensure Glaser was dead. Glaser was pronounced dead at the scene, and Frank was subsequently arrested.
Additional details about Glaser’s murder were revealed in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Lehigh Valley Live. The report stated that officers had to use a ladder to reach a second-story window after receiving no response from knocking on the doors and windows. Frank was found inside the house and complied with the officers’ order to open the front door. It was then that he reportedly told the police about his wife’s death.
District Attorney Stephen Baratta told WFMZ, an Allentown independent news station, that Frank had not reported to work or called in on Monday or Tuesday. Baratta also mentioned that it was unclear how long Glaser had been dead. He described the incident as “gruesome and on a very human level, upsetting, especially given that it’s a domestic situation.”
Bethlehem Township Police Captain Shaun Powell told The Morning Call that the department had no previous interactions with Frank. A neighbor shared with the newspaper that the couple had resided in the peaceful neighborhood for several years. Frank is currently being held in the Northampton County Prison without bond and is due to appear in court again on March 25 for a preliminary hearing.