A Northampton County man was sentenced in Carbon County court to serve 12 to 24 years in a state prison for the shooting death of his rival in a romantic relationship.

John A. Martocci, 68, of Roseto, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to what is probably a life term considering his age and the minimum length of the sentence imposed.

Martocci previously pleaded to a general charge of homicide, graded as third-degree murder, in the April 6, 2020, shooting death of Kenneth Knibiehly, at the victim’s residence in Penn Forest Township.

Martocci has been in prison since his arrest following the shooting, being held without bail because of the homicide charge.

At the plea proceeding, District Attorney Michael S. Greek said the victim’s family agreed to the plea to third-degree murder. The charge of criminal homicide has three components: first-degree murder, which must be premeditated; second-degree murder, where the person may not have committed the murder but was present or participated in the crime; and third-degree murder, which includes other murder cases.

On April 6, 2020, Donna Swanson called 911 to report a shooting. She said she was in the residence at 12 Van Doren Mews, Penn Forest Township, with her boyfriend, the victim, Kenneth Knibiehly, and his father. Around 8 p.m. they heard dogs barking, indicating someone was outside.

They then heard a knock on the door and Knibiehly went downstairs to answer it. After about a minute he came back upstairs. Knibiehly retrieved a cordless phone and a handgun and went back downstairs. Swanson heard Knibiehly speaking to a man and it sounded like a normal conversation. Then she heard a gunshot and went downstairs. She saw Knibiehly on the floor in the doorway with a gunshot wound to the head.

State police said Knibiehly was in the doorway, holding the cordless phone with his handgun sticking out of the pocket of his bathrobe.

Swanson was interviewed and indicated that she was involved in on again/off again relationships with both Knibiehly and the defendant, John Martocci. Text messages to Swanson show Martocci was unhappy with Swanson’s current relationship with Knibiehly. Knibiehly has also in the past attempted to expose the relationship she had with Martocci to Martocci’s wife.

Review of the video tapes from the neighbors revealed a dark SUV, identified as Martocci’s vehicle, driving in front to the Knibiehly’s house.

Martocci acknowledged the relationship with Swanson to police and also the situation between him and Knibiehly regarding Martocci’s wife.

Although initially denying being present, he admitted to driving to Knibiehly’s residence on April 6, parking at a driveway behind the residence and going through a yard where dogs were barking.

A search warrant of Martocci’s residence resulted in a handgun being seized capable of firing the caliber of the round that killed Knibiehly and ammunition matching the type of round that killed Knibiehly.

One neighbor spoke to the court. She said she and the victim had been neighbors for over 30 years and that he was always friendly and never a problem. She said one thing needed was “justice.” She added, “This was a calculated, coldblooded execution.”

In addition to the prison term Serfass ordered Martocci to make restitution to the victim’s compensation program of $5,956.24; to Allstate insurance for $5,850.85 and $1,567.29 to Service Pro.

He was given credit for 834 days already served on the charge.