A Bethlehem man accused of a stabbing assault in Emmaus has been found dead in Allentown and the person he hurt remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

Daniel Leibensperger, 34, was charged with alleged aggravated assault and related charges in the stabbing occurring during a dispute in Emmaus, according to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office dated Dec. 31, 2024.

According to court documents available online Jan. 5, charges filed against Leibensperger Dec. 19, 2024, included alleged aggravated assault — attempts to cause or causes bodily injury with a deadly weapon, alleged aggravated assault — attempts to cause or causes serious bodily injury, both felony charges; recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

After the stabbing, Leibensperger allegedly fled the Emmaus area, according to authorities.

In a news release dated Dec. 27, 2024, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensics Center announced Leibensperger was pronounced dead 12:33 p.m. Dec. 26, 2024, after his body was found in the Jordan Creek near the 1200 block of North Sixth Street, Allentown. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to authorities, Leibensperger’s remains were found by a passerby. “Leibensperger’s cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation by the Lehigh County Coroner,” Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan noted in the news release.

“The investigation by the Allentown Police Department has not revealed any evidence that a third party played a role in Leibensperger’s death,” the news release continued.

Authorities detailed what happened as follows:

Around 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 2024, Emmaus police were called for an assault with injuries at an apartment in the 600 block of Minor Street.

The person who called said she was assaulted by her boyfriend, identified as Leibensperger.

While officers were on the way, they received more information the caller had been stabbed in the back with a pocket knife.

When police and EMS crews arrived, the caller was observed to have a knife lodged in her back “all the way up to the handle,” according to authorities.

The injured person told police she was in the kitchen making dinner when Leibensperger began screaming at her.

“She felt a blow to the back that knocked her to the ground” and realized she had been stabbed, according to authorities.

At the time of the news release from the district attorney’s office, the woman was “hospitalized with serious injuries.”

Court documents list the charges against Leibensperger as “case dismissed — defendant deceased.”