Fla. Man Confessed to Fatally Stabbing Victim in ‘Violent’ 1997 Murder, Wrote ‘Greed’ in Blood on the Wall: Police

Florida Man Admits to Fatally Stabbing Victim in ‘Violent’ 1997 Murder

Brandon Gliha has recently confessed to the brutal murder of Stephen Edenfield in 1997, as reported by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Stephen Edenfield was tragically stabbed to death in his Tampa, Florida, condo on February 1, 1997, in a case that remained unsolved for almost three decades.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reopened the case in 2022, utilizing DNA evidence from the crime scene to eventually identify the perpetrator. After meticulous investigative work by authorities, Brandon Gliha was linked to the murder through compelling evidence and subsequently confessed to the crime on February 24, 2025.

Following his confession, Brandon Gliha was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. At 47 years old, Gliha’s admission to the heinous crime shed light on a case that had haunted the Edenfield family for 28 years, providing a semblance of closure to a long-standing mystery.

The cold case unit of the HCSO collaborated with forensic genetic genealogy company Othram Labs to establish a DNA profile of the unidentified suspect, leading to breakthroughs in the investigation. Gliha’s arrest on an Illinois forgery warrant ultimately led to his confession regarding the murder of Stephen Edenfield. The forensic analysis uncovered previously unknown DNA evidence, connecting the case to an unsolved 2005 sexual assault in Illinois.

Accounts of the night of the murder reveal a chilling sequence of events, including eyewitness reports of violence heard in the vicinity of Edenfield’s condo and the disturbing message “Greed” scrawled in blood on his bedroom wall. Brandon Gliha’s detailed recounting of the events surrounding the murder implicated another individual named “Chino” and painted a vivid picture of the tragic incident.

Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed relief at finally being able to provide answers to Stephen Edenfield’s family after years of uncertainty and pain. The arrest and confession of Brandon Gliha have brought a sense of closure to a brutal chapter in the family’s history, offering them a measure of peace in the wake of the devastating loss they endured.

The tragic murder of Stephen Edenfield serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of perseverance in closing cold cases and delivering justice to victims and their families. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and forensic experts played a crucial role in bringing closure to a long-standing mystery, highlighting the significance of advancements in forensic technology in solving cold cases.

As the details of the case continue to unfold and the legal proceedings progress, the confession of Brandon Gliha stands as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victim and his loved ones. The resolution of this decades-old case serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement in seeking justice and closure for victims of violent crimes.