Man pleads guilty to stabbing roommate in Northampton

A man who killed his roommate in Northampton so he could steal her car was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole on Thursday, court documents 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 25 experiencing homelessness.

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

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

“Bryden told investigators he had been planning on killing the victim in order to steal her vehicle as he knew he was going to be homeless soon and need a vehicle,” the report said. 

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 entered a plea agreement that lessened his charge and included a sentence with the possibility of parole.

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