Man charged in 1989 cold case murder of Lehigh County woman, 78, who bravely fought killer (2024)

An Ohio man is accused of killing a woman 35 years ago in Lehigh County, according to officials.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced Thursday that Michael Breisch, 65, was arrested and charged with homicide in the January 1989 killing of Rose Josephine Hnath.

Hnath, 78, was stabbed and beaten to death in her home in North Whitehall Township. Holihan said recent advancements in DNA technology led investigators to identify Breisch as the suspect.

Breisch, who until recently lived in Pennsylvania, was arrested in Ohio, Holihan said. Hnath and Breisch did not appear to know each other before the murder, according to Holihan.

Hnath lived in a home in the 2600 block of Second Street. She was found dead in the kitchen of her home, which was ransacked.

Holihan told reporters Thursday the case remained active through four previous district attorneys. Evidence was maintained and collected over the years, and was retested as technology advanced. One of the investigators in the case was one of the troopers who responded to the scene of the crime more than 35 years earlier.

People don’t get a “free pass” on murder, the DA said. Such cases remain in detectives’ memories, he said.

“It doesn’t matter how long ago it was, they’re still going to stay on the case,” he said.

Hnath lived at the home by herself, following her husband’s death four years earlier. She regularly attended Our Lady of Hungary Church in Northampton, and her nephew became worried when she did not show up for church Jan. 21, 1989. She was found dead in her home that day.

Investigators had previously said Hnath, who was found repeatedly stabbed and bludgeoned, fought her killer. She had defensive wounds, indicating she put up a fight, according to the DA.

“We think part of the reason for part of the violence involved and the reason some of the evidence recovered was able to be maintained was the fact that she fought back,” Holihan said.

Hnath’s home was burglarized just weeks earlier, but Holihan said Thursday that Breisch has only been charged for the burglary the day of the murder. A pickup truck was spotted in the area not long after the killing. Holihan declined to comment on the truck.

Breisch was living in the Allentown area at the time of the incident. A knife and pellet gun were among the items recovered from the incident, the DA said.Holihan said investigators believe Breisch acted alone.

Additional information on the arrest was not available Thursday. Breisch’s criminal complaint, which would typically include details on the investigation and arrest, was sealed.

Is there justice for Rose Hnath? North Whitehall woman stabbed to death in 1989 had fought killer alone.

He was charged with escape and drug possession in late January and early February of 1989, according to court records. He was sentenced to six months in prison, those records state.

Breisch was also arrested in 1993 for burglary in Pike County, according to Morning Call reporting from the time. Police said at the time items found in his Allentown home had been stolen from cabins in Promised Land State Park in Green Township.

Holihan said Hnath’s family has been contacted. They are gratified and relieved an arrest has been made, he said.

Breisch was sent to Lehigh County Jail. He is charged with homicide, robbery, burglary and aggravated assault.