By Wendy Post —
On Feb. 20, 2026, the family of 34-year-old Thomas Rath received a bit more closure as the third defendant charged with murder one in the case involving his kidnapping, torture, and eventual murder was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case and first-degree kidnapping.
Jonathan Glennon, one of three charged with murder one, was defended by Luke Fenchel and his team from Ithaca, New York, while the case was prosecuted by Tioga County, New York, District Attorney Kirk Martin and his assistant district attorney, Lillian Reardon. The Honorable Judge Adam Schumacher presided over the case.
The trial in this matter began in mid-January, with weeks of prosecution witness testimony, forensic evidence, DNA analysis, videos, photos, and voice recordings entered into evidence, items that the district attorney had hoped would prove that the defendant, Glennon, was guilty of the crimes charged.
Pictured is Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin as he departs the Court Street side of the courthouse on Friday afternoon, following the delivery of the verdict by the jury in the case against Jonathan Glennon. (Photo by Scott Armstrong)
The defense in the matter spent great portions of time trying to connect the offenses to someone else. He spent many hours poking holes in the prosecution’s theory, so much so that he was able to raise doubt in regards to the Murder One charge that was on the table.
But in the end, and after approximately six hours of jury deliberations that began at 2:37 p.m. on Thursday, the members of the jury notified the court at 1:35 p.m. on Friday that they had reached a verdict in this case.
Lunch had just ended, so it took a few minutes as people hurried back into the court, including the judge and the three alternate jurors, who sat ready to serve throughout the entire trial.
As the jury’s foreman stood in place, the judge asked, “Have you reached a verdict.”
“Yes, we have, Your Honor,” the foreman replied.
In the meantime, tensions remained high as the family looked at the jury, arms crossed; the defendant remained very still throughout the verdict and never expressed much; he kept his head up most of the time.
On the charges, the jury found the defendant, Jonathan Glennon, not guilty of first-degree murder.
For the second-degree murder charge, the jury found Jonathan Glennon guilty by all accounts.
For kidnapping, which carries a hefty penalty along with it, Jonathan Glennon was found guilty as charged.
In New York State, second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, carries a severe penalty. Upon sentencing, Glennon can face either 15 or 25 years to life on the charge, with different aspects of the crime affecting the sentence, such as depraved indifference. The first-degree charge would have carried a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
For the first-degree kidnapping charge, the sentence carries severe penalties as well. Sentencing for this charge can range from a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison, up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
It is not clear yet if sentences will run consecutively or concurrently in Glennon’s case. Pre-sentencing investigations will pave the way for that.
Following the verdict, Judge Schumacher thanked the jury for their time and patience, and they were dismissed.
The judge then revoked the bond for Glennon, which was previously set at $200,000 cash or bond, or a $2,000,000 partially secured property bond. Sentencing was then scheduled for April 27 at 1:30 p.m. and the court was dismissed.
Consistent, the defendant remained emotionless as he was once again shackled and led from the court.
Pictured is Thomas Rath. The 34-year-old was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in May of 2023, his body found in a shallow grave off of Ekroos Road in Candor, N.Y. (NYSP Photo)
As for the Rath family, the father of the same name, Thomas Rath, was a little disappointed that the Murder One charge didn’t stick but was happy with the outcome.
“It’s finally the last one,” said the grieving father who has had to endure three murder trials.
But his next statement revealed his real relief; his son’s ashes had finally returned home.
The elder Rath explained that, because of the investigation, it took 933 days to get the remains of his son; a task that he said District Attorney Kirk Martin helped with.
Then Rath displayed a leather-braided wristband made from fine material; it had a prominent silver ring connecting the two ends of the band. Inside, he noted, are the ashes of his son, 34-year old Thomas Rath.
The jury of his peers have taken their responsibility very seriously as evidenced by the length of their deliberations. It’s a very serious crime against humanity sadly something so heinous happened. There’s no winners everyone the Rath family & the Glenn family are both victims..Mr Glenon is a victim of his own behavior also. Unfortunately violent offenders don’t understand those consequence’s and realize they’re actions will effect at least the next 3 generations
Is justice really served here? I guess maybe if the judge were to make the sentences consecutive. I can’t begin to imagine the suffering that took place as this horrific crime unfolded. What in the human mind allows individuals to indulge in such ways? Im saddened for both the families because they both lose sons. Hopefully where he is going he can get right with the lord. What a waste of life, but its over now and the healing begins.
All the ppl who were involved in this horrific crime no matter how they participated should be thrown in jail and never let back out they didn’t just kidnap him they tortured him and did things I can’t believe a human could even think of In their head not to mention his children and parents got to relive what happened to him for the rest of their lives this is so sad I hope the rath family has got at least a little closure from this it will never bring there son back though it’s just not fair them monsters should never get to c their families again just like the raths family can’t c thomas ever again rest easy thomas
I’m glad the family has got the results of this. Now we should not let these people get to live in a jail on our dime. Tall tree short rope!! Bet the criminals will be looking for jobs instead of well being a criminal. We’ve all seen it 90% of these people do not get reformed. They just turned into more criminals or why does this guy get to live and live up our dime yeah it’s crappy being locked up and everything but still we’re paying for it and all they do is arrest. They get convicted put them in a jail. Hope these jails are full now let’s build a bigger one than taxes go up and blah blah blah blah blah it’s ridiculous. Hang them. I mean he did torture and murder that guy right so why not do that right on TV I mean, I could watch it no problem. Everybody should see it if you don’t wanna watch it turn your head, but other than that, the problem could be solved really simply, and we all know this we all know this, including the officers and the judges in the DAs and all that nobody’s above anything no one if I was a murderer and got caught my ass too, but I’m not not an angel, but I’ve never done anything like that. We justweed them out of our society, but you actually taking justice in your hands like free Aaron Keem. That kid did society a favor allegedly.