Man pleads guilty to stabbing roommate in Northampton

A Northampton man who killed his roommate so he could steal her car was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole Thursday, court records show.

Prosecutors said Devin Bryden, 27, stabbed Jana Abromowitz to death in 2022. Abromowitz, 21, was his roommate. Court documents said the two lived together in a property for people under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness.

Authorities charged him with murder, tampering with evidence and armed robbery in Hampshire County Superior Court.

Bryden admitted to stabbing Abromowitz, according to a report. While speaking with officers the night of the murder, Bryden said he killed her and described the knife he used.

“Bryden told investigators that he had planned to kill the victim in order to steal her vehicle because he knew he would soon be homeless and in need of a vehicle,” the report states.

After the interview, authorities immediately arrested Bryden.

On Thursday, Bryden was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years. Records show he was originally charged with first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life without parole. However, he took a plea deal that reduced his charges and included a sentence with the possibility of parole.

“The decision to settle this case was made knowing that it brings finality and certainty to an extremely painful, stressful and ultimately unsafe situation for Jana’s family,” Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber said in a statement to Boston Globe. “Although the Commonwealth believes they have an exceptionally strong case for first-degree murder, this finding spares Jana’s family a difficult trial and a potentially lengthy appeals process.”