Michael Breisch, 65, has been arrested and charged with the 1989 murder of 78-year-old Rose Hnath in her home in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. Hnath was found dead in her home after she did not attend church, with evidence showing she fought back during the attack. DNA evidence recently led to the identification of Breisch as the suspect in the case, which had remained unsolved for over 30 years. Breisch was living in a community corrections facility at the time of the murder and is believed to have burglarized Hnath’s home the day of her death.
Investigators utilized advancements in DNA technology to identify Breisch as the suspect, leading to his arrest in Ohio where he had briefly lived after leaving Pennsylvania. He has since been extradited to Pennsylvania and is being held without bail on charges of criminal homicide, burglary, robbery, and related offenses. Investigators do not believe Breisch knew Hnath at the time of the murder and they believe he acted alone. Family members of Hnath have expressed relief and gratitude at the arrest, with investigators not seeking anyone else in connection to the case.
The murder of Rose Hnath involved multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, with evidence of a struggle indicating that she fought back during the attack. Items like a knife and pellet gun were found at the crime scene and preserved for years as officials continued to investigate the case. Prior to her death, Hnath’s home had also been burglarized, though Breisch has not been linked to that earlier incident. The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Troopers, and local detectives from various agencies were involved in the investigation leading to Breisch’s arrest.
After decades of the case remaining unsolved, the use of DNA evidence and new investigative techniques helped to finally identify Michael Breisch as the suspect in the murder of Rose Hnath. His arrest and extradition back to Pennsylvania mark a significant development in the cold case, bringing some closure to Hnath’s family members who have been waiting for answers for over three decades. Breisch’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2024, and he currently does not have legal representation listed in online court records. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies from different jurisdictions helped bring about the arrest of the suspect in this long-standing case.
