Contractor Found Dead — Suspect Chased Witness on Foot

On the surface, it looked like a neighborly favor — a man helping another move furniture. But within minutes, what should have been a routine task turned into a horrifying discovery, a violent chase, and a murder charge that stunned a quiet Houston neighborhood.

A Job Offer and a Chilling Surprise

It was the morning of May 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas, when a local man was offered a quick job. A stranger, later identified as 36-year-old Steven Eberly, allegedly approached him and asked for help moving some furniture. The man agreed, unaware that the job would put him at the center of a homicide investigation just minutes later.

While assisting Eberly, the mover lifted a box in the driveway and made a gruesome discovery — the body of a deceased man, reportedly wrapped in a blanket and placed inside the container. The man immediately fled, jumping into his truck and attempting to drive away from the property.

A Violent Escape Attempt

Eberly, upon realizing the man had seen the body, allegedly chased after him — not just on foot, but by leaping onto the bed of the fleeing truck. According to surveillance footage and law enforcement reports, Eberly then tried to break the windows to stop the man from leaving. As the situation escalated, the truck reportedly collided with another vehicle, ending the pursuit and leaving Eberly with a head injury.

When deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office arrived, they found Eberly walking back to the house, bloodied but conscious. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and then arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Victim and the Charges

Authorities later identified the victim as 46-year-old Luis Silva Mendez, a contractor who had reportedly been doing work at the home. Officials have not released a motive, and the exact cause of death is pending autopsy results.

In addition to the murder charge, Harris County jail records show that Eberly faces accusations of tampering with evidence and attempting to disarm an officer. As of now, he remains in custody with a bond set at $2 million.

What Comes Next

While police have pieced together parts of the bizarre sequence of events, major questions remain. Why was the body hidden in a box? What led to the contractor's death? And was anyone else aware of what was happening inside the home?

For now, a Houston community is left wondering what really happened behind the doors of that quiet home — and how a simple favor turned into a front-row seat to a deadly secret.

References: He Asked a Stranger to Help Move Furniture — Then the Mover Found a Body, and Things Got More Sinister from There | A Stranger Helps a Man Move Furniture in His House. He Then Finds a Dead Body. | Man Finds Dead Body in Home After Stranger Asks Him for Help Moving Furniture