In the quiet suburbs of Pennsylvania, the story of Rosaline and Rihanna Glass was one of immigrant resilience, maternal devotion, and a daughter’s bright future. Rosaline, a Filipina who had come to America with dreams of a better life, had built a warm and loving home for her only child, 16-year-old Rihanna. Rihanna was the embodiment of that dream—a vibrant, ambitious, and beloved high school student with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

But on September 14, 2023, that dream was shattered in the most brutal way imaginable, leaving a community in shock and a nation grappling with the horrific details of a double homicide born from a toxic teenage romance.

The tragedy began with a simple, worried call. A friend of Rihanna’s, concerned after not hearing from her via text or phone calls, requested a welfare check at their home. When police officers arrived, they were met with an eerie silence. After repeated knocks went unanswered, they made a forced entry and were confronted with a scene of unimaginable horror.

Rosaline and Rihanna were found slain inside, victims of a brutal stabbing. The initial investigation was baffling; there were no signs of forced entry, suggesting that the perpetrator was someone the mother and daughter knew and had willingly let into their home.

As investigators began to piece together the events of that fateful night, the community reeled with speculation. Theories initially swirled around Rosaline’s ex-husband, Terry Glass, Rihanna’s father. However, that line of inquiry was quickly dismissed.

Terry had long since moved on, happily remarried with a blended family that included Rihanna, whom he and his new wife, Amber, cherished. The idea of a robbery gone wrong was also ruled out, as nothing of significant value was taken from the home, and the lack of a break-in pointed to a more personal motive.

The first major breakthrough in the case came from an unexpected source: a high-speed car crash. Rosaline’s SUV, which had been missing from her home, had crashed on a nearby road. Inside were two teenagers: a 17-year-old boy, John Derwin Bradley, and his female companion. Both were ejected from the vehicle and severely injured. As police dug into Bradley’s background, a chilling connection emerged: he was Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend.

This single link unraveled a dark and tragic backstory that Rihanna had kept hidden from her family. She and Bradley had met while working together at Dunkin’ Donuts, and a teenage romance blossomed. But what began as a sweet, first love had allegedly devolved into a toxic and abusive relationship.

Friends of Rihanna later revealed that the once-happy and confident young woman had become withdrawn and emotional. They noticed signs of verbal and physical abuse, a secret she had bravely tried to escape by breaking up with Bradley.

On the night of September 13, just hours before the slayings, Rihanna and Bradley had met. Cellphone data revealed that Rihanna had texted her best friend at 8:40 PM, mentioning that she had told Bradley she was dating someone new.

The friends even had a FaceTime call shortly after, where Rihanna mentioned Bradley was coming over to her house. That was the last time anyone heard from her in a normal context. The next text, sent at 12:42 AM, was a desperate plea to her friend: Bradley was at her house and refused to leave.

The prosecution’s theory paints a horrifying picture of what likely transpired. Bradley arrived at the Glass home around 9:11 PM, let in by Rihanna. At some point, an argument likely erupted, possibly fueled by his jealousy over her moving on.

It is believed that Rosaline, asleep at the time, was awakened by the commotion. When she went to check on her daughter, she may have walked in on a horrific scene or tried to intervene, an act of maternal protection that would cost her her life.

The forensic evidence was damning. Rosaline was found near the staircase, suggesting she was trying to escape when she was attacked. She had been stabbed an astonishing 31 times, a brutal overkill that indicated a deeply personal and explosive rage from her attacker. Rihanna, found in her room, had been stabbed three times. The evidence strongly suggested that Rosaline died trying to save her daughter.

Overwhelming physical evidence linked Bradley to the crime. Rosaline’s DNA was found on his blood-stained t-shirt, and his DNA was found on the murder weapon, which was recovered inside the home. Surveillance footage captured him walking towards the house that night, and his cellphone’s Bluetooth data showed it connected to Rosaline’s SUV just minutes after the estimated time of the slayings.

Faced with this mountain of irrefutable evidence, John Derwin Bradley, who had initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty on two counts of first-degree murder. In exchange, other charges, such as theft for stealing the car, were dropped. The once-confident teenager who had intended to fight the charges was now facing the grim reality of his actions.

The case has left both families and the community devastated. Terry Glass, while relieved that his daughter’s killer has admitted guilt, is left to mourn the loss of his child and her mother. Rosaline’s family in the Philippines, whom she had diligently supported with her earnings, are left with a void that can never be filled.

In the wake of the tragedy, Terry and his wife, Amber, have started a non-profit organization called “Rihanna’s Voice,” dedicated to educating teenagers about the dangers of abusive relationships and providing them with resources to seek help.

John Derwin Bradley is now awaiting sentencing, facing a minimum of three decades in prison. His female companion, who was with him during the car crash, was not charged but will require lifelong physical and cognitive assistance due to the severe injuries she sustained.

The case of Rosaline and Rihanna Glass serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the hidden dangers of domestic abuse, the devastating consequences of unchecked rage, and the ultimate sacrifice a mother will make to protect her child.