Months after a man has been charged with killing a contractor his girlfriend hired in a jealous rage, new details about exactly what happened are being released.
In May, KPRC 2 reported that 36-year-old Steven Eberly was charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and attempting to take a deputy’s weapon after allegedly killing a contractor at a northwest Harris County home.
Court records show that Eberly had been dating the homeowner for five months and accused the contractor, 53-year-old Luis Silva Mendez, of having a romantic relationship with her.
READ MORE: Wife of murdered contractor found in box wants answers in Harris County case
On the morning of the murder, the homeowner told Eberly she was going to work and that the contractor, Silva, would be at the house. Court records show Eberly stabbed Silva 39 times during an argument inside the home.
After the killing, Eberly drove to a nearby METRO bus stop and picked up a stranger, asking him if he wanted to make some extra money by helping move furniture. Surveillance footage shows the men moving a heavy cardboard box containing Silva’s body, wrapped in a blanket, before the stranger fled in Silva’s truck when he saw a leg fall out of the box. Eberly jumped onto the truck bed, leading to a crash.
READ MORE: $2.15M bond set for Harris County man accused of killing contractor after argument
Detectives recovered a large bloody knife and a cell phone from a nearby gutter. Eberly was found bleeding on FM 1960 and taken to the hospital before being booked into Harris County jail on a $2.15 million bond.
New details from court documents reveal that during a conversation with investigators, Eberly’s girlfriend, the homeowner, described him to be jealous, saying he made several remarks regarding other males who interacted with her. She said Eberly would say things like, “Why is (blank) looking at you like that,” while accusing her of having a relationship with the contractor.
The homeowner also said Eberly texted her, saying the contractor was “in a box” after alleging someone had broken into her house and stolen Silva’s truck.
Eberly’s mental health history is currently being reviewed.