Rose Sieniawski, a 59-year-old woman from Allentown, PA, tragically lost her life on February 14, 2016. Her decomposing body was discovered stuffed inside a recycling bin at an apartment complex two blocks from her home. The discovery was made after a maintenance worker noticed a foul smell emanating from several trash bags inside the bin. An autopsy revealed that Sieniawski had died from multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled as homicide.
The investigation led by
Allentown police and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force quickly identified Walter Bratvold, a 62-year-old man from Allentown, as the prime suspect. Bratvold and Sieniawski had been in a relationship, and coworkers reported that Sieniawski had not been to work since February 9th and had not called in to inform her employer. Surveillance footage showed Sieniawski leaving her job with Bratvold on the night of February 9th.
On February 16th, as police attempted to serve a warrant at Bratvold's apartment, he allegedly opened fire, injuring a detective in the exchange of gunfire. Bratvold was taken into custody, and a .22-caliber revolver was recovered from his apartment. The gun was tested and matched the bullet recovered from Sieniawski's body. Shell casings found at the scene were consistent with being fired from the revolver, which had been purchased by Bratvold.
Bratvold was charged with one count of homicide and one count of abuse of a corpse. He later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and aggravated assault. In May 2017, he was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. During the sentencing, Bratvold expressed regret but claimed he wasn't sure what happened, citing mental health issues and heavy drinking as contributing factors. The judge, however, was skeptical of his story and emphasized the severity of his actions.
The case of Rose Sieniawski highlights the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the importance of seeking help for mental health and addiction issues. Her death serves as a somber reminder of the need for awareness and intervention in potentially dangerous relationships.
